LANG  DON 

CELEBRATION  OF  THE 
FOURTH  OF  JULY  BY  MEANS 
OF  PAGEANTRY 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


The  Celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July 
by  Means  of  Pageantry 


WILLIAM  CHAUNCY  LANGDON 

Master  of  the  Pageants  of  Thetford,  Vermont  (191 1),  and  of  St.  Johnsbury, 
Vermont  (1912) 


With  an  Article  and  Notes  on  the  Music 
By  ARTHUR  FARWELL 

Supervisor  of  Municipal  Concerts,  New  York  City  (1910-1912) 


PUBLISHED  BY 
THE  DIVISION  OF  RECREATION 

OF  THE 
RUSSELL  SAGE  FOUNDATION 

Copyright,  1912,  by  the  Russell  Sage  Foundation 


"This  second  (fourth)  day  of  July,  1776,  will  be  the  most 
memorable  epocha  in  the  history  of  America.  I  am  apt  to 
believe  that  it  will  be  celebrated  by  succeeding  generations 
as  the  great  anniversary  festival.  It  ought  to  be  commem- 
orated by  solemn  acts  of  devotion  to  God  Almighty.  It 
ought  to  be  solemnized  with  pomp  and  parade,  with  shows, 
games,  sports,  guns,  bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations,  from 
one  end  of  this  continent  to  the  other,  from  this  time  for- 
ward forevermore."  JOHN  ADAMS,  July  3rd,  1776. 


PREFACE 

The  suggestions  for  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July 
that  are  offered  in  this  pamphlet  are  based  on  two  convictions : — 
(i)  That  there  is  not  only  a  need  but  an  earnest  desire  for  some 
good  way  to  celebrate  our  chief  national  holiday.  This  desire, 
it  is  believed,  is  for  a  way  not  merely  negative  and  restrictive, 
arising  from  the  revulsion  against  the  suffering  incident  to  the  old 
celebrations,  but  for  a  form  of  celebration  that  will  be  positive, 
growing  from  the  significance  of  the  holiday  and  embodying  the 
glory  of  the  idea  of  Liberty  realized  in  national  life.  With  this 
desire  on  the  part  of  the  public,  it  becomes  worth  while  to  try  to 
work  something  out  along  this  line,  and  I  have  desired  to  make 
my  contribution  to  this  cause. 

(2)  The  second  conviction  on  which  these  suggestions  are 
offered  is  that  there  are  principles  that  should  govern  such  a 
celebration  and  that  should  guide  its  formulation.  There  is, 
ideally  at  least,  some  one  best  way  to  celebrate  the  Fourth  of 
July,  some  one  best  form  of  celebration,  which  embodies  these 
principles,  and  which  should  be  the  goal  for  all  our  attempts  to 
realize  it. 

Two  outlines  are  offered  in  this  pamphlet  as  suggestions  for 
those  who  have  the  preparation  of  a  Fourth  of  July  celebration 
in  hand, — one  for  a  Celebration  and  the  other  for  a  General 
Pageant,  with  an  episode  that  may  be  used  in  either.  For  those 
who  may  desire  it  a  technical  discussion  of  these  outlines  and  of 
the  general  problem  involved  is  given  in  the  section,  Pageantry 
in  Independence  Day  Celebrations. 

Going  to  Mr.  Arthur  Farwell,  at  first  only  to  ask  him  to 
write  some  technical  notes  on  the  musical  programme  that  I  had 
selected  for  the  two  outlines  herein  printed,  I  found  that  he  had 
for  some  time  been  giving  thought  and  work  to  this  matter  of 
Independence  Day  celebrations,  especially  of  course  in  its  musical 
aspect.  In  consequence  his  comment  on  the  whole  plan  has 
been  most  helpful  and  stimulating,  and  I  want  here  to  make 
appreciative  acknowledgment  of  it.  He  has  embodied  in  the 

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article  which  he  has  written  for  this  pamphlet,  "Music  in  Inde- 
pendence Day  Celebrations,"  much  that  will  be  found  valuable 
by  Fourth  of  July  Committees  and  that  goes  to  the  root  of  the 
question  of  the  best  celebration  of  this  great  holiday. 

The  ideal  celebration  must  grow.  It  cannot  be  devised  at 
one  stroke  by  any  one  man  or  group.  It  is  hoped  that  the  sug- 
gestions herein  offered  may  be  of  practical  use  to  cities,  towns 
and  villages  seeking  to  work  up  for  this  year  a  celebration  that 
shall  to  some  extent  follow  pageant  lines.  To  this  end  the  right 
is  herewith  freely  given  to  use  either  the  Celebration  or  the  Out- 
line for  a  General  Pageant,  including  the  Episode,  and  to  perform 
them  in  whole  or  in  part.  In  order  that  the  extent  of  the  practical 
value  of  this  pamphlet  may  be  learned  and  in  order  that  new 
ideas  may  be  made  available  for  the  general  benefit  another  year, 
it  is  earnestly  requested  that  all  communities  that  do  use  these 
outlines  or  follow  these  suggestions, — even  though  it  be  to  but  a 
slight  extent, — will  be  so  kind  as  to  inform  the  Russell  Sage 
Foundation.  This  request  is  meant  to  apply  particularly  to 
anything  original  that  may  be  done,  either  as  a  whole  or  in  pur- 
suit of  the  suggestion  made  by  Mr.  Farwell  for  original  work 
along  musical  lines  at  the  place  provided  within  the  Celebration. 
The  importance  is  urged  also  of  getting  photographs  of  the 
scenes  in  action, — not  merely  of  costumed  groups.  It  is  requested 
that  if  possible  three  copies  of  programmes  and  newspaper  ac- 
counts be  sent,  that  one  may  be  filed  with  the  Russell  Sage 
Foundation  and  that  Mr.  Farwell  and  the  writer  may  each  have 
one  for  use  in  preparing  future  editions  of  this  pamphlet. 

WILLIAM  CHAUNCY  LANGDON 

400  Metropolitan  Tower 
New  York  City 


A  Celebration  for  the  Fourth  of  July 

The  Red,  White  and  Blue. 
I.  THE  PROCLAMATION  OF  THE  HOLIDAY. 

Hail,  Columbia!  and  Yankee  Doodle. 

II.  THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE. 

Hymn  to  Liberty. 

III.  THE  ACCLAMATION  OF  AMERICA. 

The  Star-Spangled  Banner. 

IV.  THE  TRIBUTE  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 

Special  Music. 

V.  THE  OATH  OF  ALLEGIANCE. 

America. 

VI.  THE  REVIEW. 

The  Grounds  herein  imagined  are  a  square  or  a  small  park, 
in  front  of  the  City  Hall.  The  City  Hall  itself,  or  some  other 
public  building,  is  the  background  for  the  scenes.  There  are 
trees  and  bushes  on  either  side  of  the  City  Hall.  The  grand- 
stand or  other  seating  accommodation  directly  faces  the  City 
Hall.  The  distance  from  the  grand-stand  to  the  City  Hall 
accords  with  the  number  of  people  who  take  part  in  the  Celebra- 
tion. On  the  side  of  the  Grounds,  to  the  right  of  the  audience, 
there  is  placed  a  small  grand-stand  or  platform  for  the  Mayor 
and  his  escorting  party.  Directly  opposite,  on  the  left  side  of 
the  Grounds,  there  is  a  half-shed  or  shell  to  serve  as  a  sounding- 
board  for  the  orchestra,  band,  or  whatever  instrumental  music 
there  may  be  and  seats  for  a  trained  chorus  to  lead  in  the  singing. 

I.  The  Proclamation  of  the  Holiday.  The  orchestra,  band, 
or  whatever  instrumental  music  there  may  be  will  play  "The 
Red,  White  and  Blue."  After  four  lines  have  been  played,  there 
is  heard  a  bugle  call  from  one  side  of  the  City  Hall,  in  the  back- 
ground, and  then  from  the  other  side;  repeated.  Then  there 
come  out  from  either  side  of  the  City  Hall  two  troops  of  Boy 
Scouts,  each  with  its  bugles,  who  march  in  a  quarter-circle  around 
to  either  side  of  the  entrance  to  the  City  Hall  and  there  take  their 
position.  The  buglers  sound  a  fanfare.  A  moment  later  the 
Mayor  appears  at  the  top  of  the  steps  at  the  entrance  to  the  City 

5 


Hall.  The  city  flag  is  carried  immediately  behind  the  Mayor. 
With  the  Mayor  are  the  City  Council,  his  Department  heads  or 
other  city  officials.  The  Boy  Scouts  salute,  and  the  buglers 
again  sound  a  fanfare.  At  the  same  time  from  the  two  entrances 
at  either  end  of  the  main  grand-stand  there  run  two  groups  of 
little  girls  dressed  in  white  and  carrying  flowers  and  wreaths,  the 
two  groups  converging  and  uniting  at  the  foot  of  the  steps  in 
front  of  the  Mayor.  When  the  music  has  played  the  tune  through 
once  and  begins  for  the  second  time,  the  chorus  sings  the  words 
and  the  Mayor  descends  the  steps  and  advances  toward  the  au- 
dience on  the  grand-stand.  He  walks  alone;  the  little  girls  go 
ahead  of  him  in  two  groups,  one  on  either  side;  the  city  officials 
follow  in  a  massed  group  behind  him;  and  the  Boy  Scouts  on 
either  side  of  them  and  a  little  behind  the  Mayor.  As  for  the 
second  time  the  chorus  of  the  song  is  reached,  the  Mayor  and 
his  party  halt  and  all,  including  the  audience,  join  in  singing  the 
chorus,  "Three  Cheers  for  the  Red,  White  and  Blue."  The  music 
stops. 

The  Mayor  will  then  read  his  proclamation  of  the  holiday  and 
call  upon  the  people  of  the  town  to  join  in  this  united  celebration 
of  the  day,  or  if  the  Celebration  be  held  in  the  evening,  to  close 
the  festivities  of  the  day  by  joining  in  this  united  celebration  of 
it.  If  it  be  desired,  the  Mayor  may  here  briefly  address  the 
people  for  a  few  moments.  The  Mayor  will  then  call  upon  one 
of  the  ministers  of  the  town  to  offer  a  brief  prayer.  The  Mayor 
and  his  official  party  will  then  retire  and  take  seats  on  the  stand 
provided  for  them  at  one  side  of  the  general  grand-stand.  The 
Boy  Scouts  will  take  their  position,  standing  in  two  groups  at 
either  side  of  the  Mayor  and  the  City  Officials,  and  the  girls  with 
their  flowers  will  sit  in  front  of  them  on  the  grass.  Meanwhile 
the  music  will  play  "Hail,  Columbia!" 

n.  The  Declaration  of  Independence.  As  soon  as  the 
Mayor's  party  has  reached  their  places,  while  the  music  is  still 
playing,  a  group  of  Boy  Scouts  come  from  the  two  sides  of  the 
grand-stand,  bringing  in  two  tables  and  sufficient  chairs  for  the 
scene  to  follow.  This  must  be  done  quickly  and  with  dignity, 
each  one  carrying  only  one  chair,  going  directly  to  the  spot  where 
it  is  to  be  placed  and  immediately  returning  whence  he  came. 
Immediately  after,  the  music  now  playing  "Yankee  Doodle," 
the  members  of  the  Second  Continental  Congress  come  by  twos 
and  threes  from  the  various  entrances  at  the  back.  They  take 


their  seats  at  once.  John  Hancock  takes  the  chair;  John  Adams 
and  John  Dickinson  deliver  their  speeches;  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  or  part  of  it  is  read;  and  the  vote  is  taken.  John 
Hancock  declares  the  motion  passed  and  instructs  the  small 
grandson  of  the  bell-ringer  to  go  and  tell  his  grandfather  to 
ring  the  bell.  The  boy  runs  off.  The  bell  of  the  City  Hall 
peals  forth  and  the  peal  is  taken  up  by  all  the  other  bells  of  the 
city.  Cannon  are  fired  at  some  convenient  place  near  the 
City  Hall.  The  characteristic  jubilation  continues  for  a  few 
minutes,  during  which  the  members  of  the  Congress  one  by  one 
step  up  to  the  table  and  sign  their  names.  Then  as  the  ring- 
ing of  the  bells  and  the  firing  of  the  cannon  cease,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Congress,  each  in  his  place  stands  facing  the  audience. 
The  music, — instruments  and  chorus, — instantly  breaks  forth 
in  "The  Hymn  to  Liberty."  Full  details  and  directions  for  this 
episode  are  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this  pamphlet. 

III.  The  Acclamation  of  America.  During  the  last  stanza 
of  the  Hymn,  the  members  of  the  Congress  come  forward  into 
two  groups,  both  at  first  facing  the  entrance  at  the  left  of  the 
grand-stand,  raising  their  arms  or  extending  them  as  in  wel- 
come. From  that  entrance  there  pour  in  groups  of  foreign 
peoples,  of  whatever  nationalities  may  be  represented  in  the 
town,  in  native  costume, — or  if  the  town  be  located  in  a  west- 
ern state,  of  people  from  the  New  England  or  Southern  states 
that  first  settled  the  town  or  state,  in  their  early  costumes,  as 
well  as  of  those  foreigners  who  have  since  settled  there.  Mean- 
time the  Boy  Scouts  quickly  remove  the  chairs  and  the  tables. 
From  the  other  entrance,  on  the  right  of  the  grand-stand,  groups 
of  people  come.  The  people  take  their  places  chiefly  on  the  left 
side  so  grouped  together  as  to  make  the  tableau  beautiful  and 
their  numbers  effective.  When  the  music  ceases,  the  members 
of  the  Congress,  led  by  John  Hancock,  turn  and  point  toward  the 
wooded  entrance  at  the  left  of  the  City  Hall ;  they  then  walk  in 
that  direction  pointing  still  toward  the  woods.  All  the  people 
turn  and  in  silence  look  where  the  members  of  the  Congress 
point.  From  the  woods  appears  America  on  horseback  (or,  if 
the  town  be  small  and  the  grounds  restricted,  on  foot).  Her 
horse  is  white.  She  is  robed  all  in  white,  and  wears  a  white  liberty 
cap  on  her  head.  On  her  left  arm  she  carries  the  Shield  of  the 
United  States,  and  held  high,  in  her  right  hand,  the  American 
Flag.  With  her  as  escort  come  first  the  State  in  which  the  town 


8 

is  located  carrying  the  State  shield  and  flag  and  then  the  thir- 
teen original  States,  carrying  their  shields,  but  not  their  flags. 
As  soon  as  they  are  well  out  from  under  the  trees,  America 
and  her  escort  halt.  America  slightly  elevates  the  flag.  The 
music, — the  instruments,  the  chorus  and  all  the  people  of  the 
audience,  rising,  unitedly  burst  forth  in  the  acclaim  of  "The  Star 
Spangled  Banner."  One  stanza  is  sung.  During  this  stanza 
America  and  the  States  ride  slowly  down  between  the  groups 
of  the  members  of  the  Congress  and  in  a  circle  around  the  open 
space  in  front  of  the  grand-stand  to  a  position  near  the  rear 
right  corner  of  the  grounds  between  the  Mayor's  stand  and  the 
City  Hall.  The  Congress  follow  and  take  their  places  with 
America,  a  group  on  either  side  of  her. 

IV.  The  Tribute  of  the  People.  In  the  open  space  now  left 
clear  in  front  of  the  audience  and  between  America  and  her  escort 
and  the  Mayor  and  his  official  party,  on  the  one  side  of  the 
grounds,  and  the  massed  groups  of  the  foreign  peoples  on  the 
other,  there  now  come  up  first  one  group  and  then  another  of  the 
foreign  citizens  in  the  old-country  dress  and  dance  their  national 
folk-dances  or  sing  their  national  folk-songs  to  the  appropriate 
music  on  the  proper  instruments.  The  Boy  Scouts  and  the 
Camp  Fire  Girls  may  perform  one  of  their  characteristic  appro- 
priate activities.  And  last  the  Children  of  the  Schools  may  be 
introduced  in  an  American  dance  or  song.  Opportunity  should 
be  given  also, — and  in  the  middle  of  these  Tributes  would  be  a 
good  place, — for  the  audience  under  the  lead  of  the  trained  chorus 
to  join  in  the  singing  of  some  one  or  more  of  the  familiar  local 
American  songs,  like  "Dixie,"  "The  Old  Oaken  Bucket"  and 
"The  Swanee  River."  It  might  be  made  a  special  point  to  sing 
at  least  one  song  of  another  part  of  the  country  as  well  as  one 
that  is  local, — e.  g.  to  sing  "Dixie"  in  New  England  as  well  as 
"The  Old  Oaken  Bucket."  Here  may  be  performed  the  music 
specially  written  In  Praise  of  Liberty  for  the  occasion  by  local 
composers  as  is  suggested  elsewhere  in  this  pamphlet  by  Mr. 
Farwell.  The  order  of  these  tributes  should  be  such  as  to  pro- 
vide a  continual  variety  in  the  character  of  the  exercises  and 
to  lead  to  a  climax.  For  instance,  the  European  folk-dances 
might  alternate  with  the  Boy  Scouts  and  the  Camp  Fire  Girls; 
then  as  a  special  feature  the  American  songs  or  the  new  original 
music;  and  last  the  Children  of  the  Schools  in  large  numbers, 
dressed  in  white  and  with  sashes  of  the  national  colors,  in  their 


American  dance.  Great  latitude  may  be  used  in  the  features 
here  introduced,  provided  that  everything  that  is  done  be  very 
short,  be  artistic,  and  distinctly  characteristic  of  the  group  per- 
forming it.  The  offertory  spirit  should  dominate  in  this  part 
of  the  Celebration.  In  every  instance  the  group  will  first  bow 
or  otherwise  salute  America  and  then  the  Mayor  and  finally  the 
people  of  the  town  in  the  audience;  at  the  end  before  returning 
to  their  places  again  saluting  each  in  inverse  order. 

V.  The  Oath  of  Allegiance.    At  the  close  of  these  Tributes  of 
the  People,  the  Mayor  will  step  forward  a  few  paces  from  his 
position  and  call  upon  all  the  people  to  join  him  in  taking  anew 
the  Oath  of  Allegiance.     The  People  in  the  grand-stand  will 
rise;    the  people  on  the  grounds  in  costume  will  kneel  on  one 
knee,  except  the  Mayor;   those  on  horseback,  except  America, 
will  dismount  and  stand  at  their  horses'  heads.     America  holding 
the  flag  high  above  their  heads,  the  Mayor  will  lead  the  people 
in  repeating  the  Oath  of  Allegiance.     Then  while   the   people 
are  still  kneeling,  a  minister  appointed  by  the  Mayor,  appro- 
priately the  oldest  minister  in  the  town,  will  pronounce  a  bene- 
diction.    All   rising   from   their   knees   and   the   audience   still 
standing,  all  will  then  join  in  singing  "America,"  led  by  the 
instruments  and  the  trained  chorus.     While  this  is  being  sung, 
the  Mayor  and  his  official  party  will  advance  and  march  over  to 
the  steps  of  the  City  Hall  where  they  will  take  their  positions  for 
the  review. 

VI.  The  Review.    The  Mayor  stands  about  half  way  up  the 
steps,  the  city  officials  grouped  behind  him,  the  Boy  Scouts  on 
the  ground  at  either  corner  of  the  steps  and  the  little  girls  sitting 
in  front  along  the  lowest  step.     To  martial  music  which  con- 
tinues through  to  the  end  the  various  groups  of  people  that  have 
taken  part  in  the  Celebration  will  fall  into  line  from  the  left  of 
the  grand-stand  and  march  down  toward  the  left  end  of  the 
grand-stand,  then  doubling  back  march  up  toward  the  City 
Hall,  turning  to  march  across  in  front  of  the  Mayor  whom  they 
salute  as  they  pass,  and  on  in  front  of  America  and  the  group 
with  her  of  the  States  and  the  members  of  the  Second  Continen- 
tal Congress  at  the  corner  of  the  grounds;   then  down  the  right 
side  of  the  grounds  and  out  at  the  right  exit  at  the  corner  of  the 
grand-stand.     When  the  procession  has  departed,  America  and 
the  States,  followed  by  the  members  of  the  Congress,  will  ride 
from  their  position  straight  down  toward  the  center  of  the  grand- 


IO 

stand,  and  there  turn  and  go  straight  up  the  middle  of  the 
grounds  toward  the  Mayor  and  his  party.  When  America  and 
the  States  have  turned  and  just  as  they  have  started  to  ride 
toward  the  Mayor,  the  little  girls  with  their  flowers  run  down  to 
meet  her,  and  return  toward  the  Mayor  ahead  of  her.  As 
America  reaches  a  point  directly  in  front  of  the  Mayor,  they 
salute  each  other,  and  America,  the  States  and  the  members  of 
Congress  preceded  by  the  little  girls  turn  to  the  left  and  go  out 
of  the  grounds  at  the  left  of  the  City  Hall  where  America  first 
rode  in.  Then  the  City  Officials  open  a  way  between  them,  the 
Mayor  goes  into  the  City  Hall,  followed  by  the  City  Officials  and 
by  the  Boy  Scouts. 


Outline  for  a  General  Pageant  for  the 
Fourth  of  July 


The  Red,  White  and  Blue. 
I.  THE  APPROACH  OF  LIBERTY.     (Symbolical.) 

Hail,  Columbia! 
II.    THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE, — 1776.     (Realistic.) 

Hymn  to  Liberty. 
III.  THE  TRIUMPH  OF  FREEDOM  AFTER  THE  REVOLUTION.     (Procession.) 

Yankee  Doodle,  Battle  Hymn  of  the  Republic  and  Dixie. 
IV.  BETWEEN  THE  LINES  DURING  THE  CIVIL  WAR, — 1863.     (Realistic.) 
V.  THE  REUNION  OF  THE  BLUE  AND  THE  GRAY.     (Procession.) 
Battle  Hymn  of  the  Republic,  Dixie,  and  The  Swanee  River. 
VI.  THE  STRUGGLE  FOR  A  BETTER  NATIONAL  LIFE, — 1912.     (Realistic.) 

America. 

VII.  THE  EXALTATION  OF  AMERICA!    (Symbolical.) 
The  Star-Spangled  Banner. 

The  Pageant  Grounds  herein  imagined  are  a  fairly  open  lawn 
of  medium  size  on  the  edge  of  thick  woods,  preferably  of  ever- 
greens with  small  trees  and  bushes  in  front  of  the  taller  trees.  It 
will  be  better  if  the  edge  of  the  woods  is  irregular  with  receding 
and  protruding  groups  of  trees,  thus  landscaping  the  scene  before 
the  audience.  It  will  be  effective  if  the  ground  rises  with  a 
steep  slope  through  the  woods  into  a  hill,  thus  giving  a  high 
background  to  the  pageant.  Near  the  grand-stand  on  the  left 
side  of  the  Grounds  there  is  a  half-shed  or  shell  of  wood  for  the 
orchestra,  band  or  whatever  instrumental  music  there  may  be, 
and  seats  for  a  trained  chorus  to  lead  in  the  singing. 

I.  The  Approach  of  Liberty.  (Symbolical.)  Promptly  at 
the  hour  for  the  pageant,  the  orchestra,  band,  or  whatever  in- 
strumental music  there  may  be,  will  play  The  Red,  White  and 
Blue,  repeating  the  chorus  diminuendo,  the  final  chords  quite 
soft.  There  then  come  from  the  woods  in  the  background  and 
to  the  left,  three  notes  long  and  clear  sounded  by  a  bugle  or  horn. 
After  a  moment  of  silence,  three  more  notes  of  the  horn  are 
heard,  and  from  the  direction  of  the  horn  comes  forth  into  the 


12 

open,  out  from  under  the  trees,  Liberty,  all  in  white.  She  is 
followed  by  Democracy,  Industry,  Health  and  Patriotism.  They 
cross  over  toward  the  right  of  the  grounds  and  seem  to  be  merely 
passing  through.  From  several  places  in  the  woods,  however, 
are  heard  murmurs  of  discontent,  low  cries,  and  groans.  Liberty 
stops;  she  turns  and  listens.  She  goes  back  a  few  steps,  puts  the 
horn  to  her  lips  and  blows  the  three  notes  again. 

From  the  woods,  at  various  places,  mostly  at  the  back  and  on 
the  left,  come  groups  of  people  typical  of  the  oppressed  of  dif- 
ferent periods  under  the  restraint  of  their  masters.  First  and 
prominently  there  should  be  a  group  of  English  merchants  and 
American  colonists,  the  Englishmen  haughtily  giving  orders  to 
the  Americans,  who  receive  them  with  alternating  respect  and 
rebellion.  Groups  suggestive  of  other  kinds  of  oppression  or 
of  lack  of  true  freedom  may  follow.  In  these  personal  cruelty 
is  not  always  an  essential  feature ;  indeed  sometimes  the  absence 
of  freedom  when  combined  with  content  will  be  the  more  sig- 
nificant. Instances  of  such  groups  may  be: — early  Puritans 
seeking  religious  liberty  and  English  bishops  restraining  them; 
later  Puritans  and  the  quiet  but  obstinate  Quakers;  captains 
and  sailors  of  New  England  slave-ships  selling  negroes  to  South- 
ern planters  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution;  later  negroes  quite 
content  carrying  bales  of  cotton  for  their  Southern  masters,  and 
singing  snatches  of  plantation  songs  the  while;  coming  down 
later  to  the  larger  immigration  period,  a  group  of  starving  Irish 
peasants ;  or  of  Russian  Jews  driven  with  the  knout  by  Cossacks. 
Finally,  there  should  be  one  or  two  groups  without  any  master, 
in  present-day  dress;  their  heads  bent,  they  are  absorbed  each  in 
his  own  slavery  to  some  form  of  circumstance  or  condition. 
Some  are  pale  and  sick.  Some,  money  in  one  hand  and  watch  in 
the  other,  are  engrossed  in  the  rush  for  material  affluence.  Some 
are  composed  of  one  or  two  capitalists  and  several  employees, 
obstinately  hostile  to  each  other,  the  workmen  throwing  down 
their  tools  or  leaning  on  them  idly,  while  the  capitalists  grasp 
closer  their  purses  and  strong  boxes.  So  all  these  groups,  chosen 
and  worked  out  according  to  local  appropriateness,  come  slowly 
in,  irregular  in  order  and  each  group  quite  distinct  from  the  others. 

Liberty  beckons  to  all  the  oppressed  to  come  to  her.  They 
press  forward  toward  her,  but  are  haughtily  restrained  by  their 
task-masters.  The  present-day  groups  look  up  eagerly  to  her  for 
a  moment,  then  lose  interest  in  the  proffered  freedom  and  again 


13 

become  absorbed  each  in  the  mood  of  his  own  subjection  to  condi- 
tions. Liberty  however  turns  toward  the  several  groups  of  old- 
time  slaves  and  with  imperial  gestures  of  command  requires  the 
masters  to  liberate  those  whom  they  hold  in  oppression.  As- 
tounded, not  daring  to  disobey,  they  relinquish  their  control;  the 
oppressed,  group  after  group  in  historical  order,  surge  forward  to 
Liberty's  side,  joyfully  and  gratefully  acclaiming  her ;  some  of  the 
women  kneeling  before  her  and  kissing  her  robe.  The  masters 
withdraw  a  little  distance  and  watch,  first  with  amazement,  then 
with  interest,  and  at  last  with  hearty  enthusiasm.*  Finally 
Liberty  goes  up  to  the  groups  of  the  present-day  enslaved  and 
wins  their  attention;  as  they  come  over  to  her,  their  whole  de- 
meanor changes,  becoming  vigorous  and  joyful,  and  they  join 
each  other  with  a  new  unselfish  comradeship.  As  each  group 
comes  to  her  Liberty  calls  the  attention  of  one  of  her  companions 
to  them ;  for  instance,  the  American  colonists  to  Democracy,  the 
negroes  to  Industry,  the  present-day  slaves  to  Health  and  to 
Patriotism,  who  guide  them  to  their  places  in  the  tableau.  When 
all  are  brought  together  into  one  group,  both  the  oppressed  and 
the  masters,  Liberty  points  forward  as  if  indicating  the  path  of 
progress  to  them,  whither  she  will  lead  them,  again  blows  her 
three  loud  notes,  and  starts  off  briskly  toward  the  left  front 
entrance,  her  companions  and  all  the  others  following  her. 
The  music  strikes  up  "Hail,  Columbia!"  as  the  whole  group 
depart  quickly,  singing  joyously.  (The  action  of  this  scene 
should  not  be  too  near  to  the  front.) 

II.  The  Declaration  of  Independence, — 1776.     (Realistic.) 
This  episode  may  be  the  same  as  in  the  Celebration  and  will  close 
with  the  singing  of  The  Hymn  to  Liberty.     Full  details  and 
directions  for  this  episode  are  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  this 
pamphlet. 

III.  The  Triumph  of  Freedom  after  the  Revolution.     (Pro- 
cession.)    This  is  a  procession  of  the  American  soldiers,  return- 

*  For  is  it  not  true  that  in  nearly  all  the  issues  of  public  life  in  the  United 
States,  past  and  present,  the  underlying  purpose  on  both  sides  has  been  to 
preserve  unity  in  the  whole  without  sacrificing  freedom  in  the  part?  Each 
side  has  felt  it  necessary  strenuously  to  uphold  one  aspect;  conflict  has  re- 
sulted because  of  the  belief  that  either  unity  or  local  freedom  was  in  jeopardy. 
The  Tories  were  not  fond  of  being  oppressed;  they  held  the  unity  of  the  thir- 
teen colonies  secured  under  the  British  crown  to  be  of  superior  value  to  the 
local  freedom  of  the  colonies.  And  in  the  Civil  War,  the  North  fought  for 
unity;  the  South  for  the  local  freedom  of  the  individual  states.  In  an  impor- 
tant sense,  both  won. 


14 

ing  with  the  tattered  battle-flags  and  in  worn  and  faded  buff  and 
blue  uniforms,  to  their  homes  after  the  Surrender  at  Yorktown. 
Soldiers  from  different  colonies,  wearing  characteristic  uniforms, 
may  be  included,  when  possible.  They  should  be  preceded  by 
fifes  and  drums,  playing  "Yankee  Doodle."  General  Washing- 
ton and  his  staff  should  march  on  horseback  at  the  head  of 
the  column,  immediately  after  the  fifes  and  drums.  When 
General  Washington  and  his  staff  reach  the  center  back  of  the 
grounds,  they  should  halt  and  take  their  place  there,  facing  the 
audience,  to  review  the  passing  soldiers,  the  fifes  and  drums  tak- 
ing position  directly  opposite  them  in  the  middle  of  the  grounds 
with  their  backs  to  the  audience  and  continuing  to  play  until  all 
the  soldiers  have  passed.  The  course  of  the  soldiers  should  be, 
entering  at  one  side  of  the  grand-stand,  to  march  well  into  the 
grounds,  march  across  between  General  Washington  and  the 
fifes  and  drums,  saluting  as  they  pass,  down  on  the  other  side  of 
the  grounds,  and  depart  at  the  other  end  of  the  grand-stand. 
Then  the  fifes  and  drums  should  wheel  around  and  march  di- 
agonally across  the  grounds  directly  to  the  exit  (not  following  the 
soldiers),  followed  by  General  Washington  and  his  staff. 

IV.  Between  the  Lines  during  the  Civil  War, — 1863.  (Real- 
istic.) Far  off  on  the  right  of  the  audience  is  heard,  played  by 
military  band  or  by  fife  and  drum  corps,  one  line  of  "The  Battle 
Hymn  of  the  Republic."  From  the  extreme  left  is  heard  the 
first  line  of  "Dixie."  Each  is  answered  by  another  line  of  the 
respective  songs  and  by  cheers  on  the  Northern  side  and  the 
"rebel  yell"  on  the  Southern.  The  bugles  sound  the  "Advance" 
and  the  "Commence  Firing"  on  either  side.  On  either  side  at 
as  great  a  distance  as  is  practicable  the  two  armies  advance  in 
skirmish  line  upon  each  other,  running  forward  a  short  way  and 
then  lying  down  and  firing,  until  both  sides  have  reached  the 
grounds.  Here  and  there  a  soldier  falls  over  dead,  or  wounded 
and  is  helped  by  a  comrade.  The  "Cease  Firing"  is  heard  on 
the  bugles  on  either  side  at  some  distance.  The  firing  stops,  and 
the  men  on  both  sides  sit  up  on  the  ground.  They  call  to  each 
other  by  the  names  of  "Yank"  and  "Johnnie  Reb,"  and  then 
come  out  into  the  open,  chatting  with  each  other  in  a  friendly 
way  and  exchanging  coffee  and  tobacco.  After  a  moment  of 
this,  the  "Commence  Firing"  is  again  heard;  the  soldiers  hurry 
back  to  their  lines,  giving  each  other  fair  chance  to  get  back,  and 
then  resume  their  firing.  The  bugles  sound  "Retire"  on  either 


15 

side,  and  both  lines  withdraw  slowly,  firing  as  they  go.     Again 
"Cease  Firing"  is  heard,  and  the  firing  stops. 

V.  The  Reunion  of  the  Blue  and  the  Gray.     (Procession.) 
Again  is  heard  from  either  side  the  first  lines  of  "The  Battle 
Hymn  of  the  Republic"  and  "Dixie"  answering  each  other. 
The  full  orchestra  starts  in  to  play  the  two  tunes  either  alter- 
nately, or  together.     (An  arrangement  of  these  two  melodies  in 
combination   for  band   and   for  orchestra  is  being   prepared.) 
Each  from  its  own  side  at  the  entrances  at  either  end  of  the 
grand-stand  enter  the  two  armies,  the  Northern  and  the  Southern, 
in  the  blue  and  in  the  gray  uniforms,  faded  and  worn,  and  carry- 
ing their  tattered  battle-flags,  the  stars  and  stripes  with  the 
thirty-five  stars  of  1863,  and  the  stars  and  bars  of  the  Confederacy. 
At  the  same  moment,  as  the  armies  march  into  the  grounds,  from 
the  woods  at  the  back  of  the  grounds  enter  two  color  sergeants, 
one  in  blue  and  one  in  gray,  carrying  between  them  the  American 
flag  of  the  present,  with  the  forty-eight  stars.     They  take  their 
place  at  the  back  of  the  grounds  facing  the  audience.     The  two 
columns  march  up  the  grounds  each  on  its  own  side,  cross  over  in 
front  of  the  American  flag  saluting  it  as  they  pass,  down  on  the 
opposite  side  and  out  at  the  place  where  the  other  army  is  enter- 
ing.    In  the  northern  states  the  Northern  soldiers  may  take  the 
inner  path,  thus  when  crossing  over,  being  nearer  the  audience, 
with  the  Southern  soldiers  between  them  and  the  flag;    in  the 
southern  states  the  Southern  soldiers  may  similarly  take  the 
inner  path.     This  will  bring  to  the  front  the  local  point  of  view. 
When  the  two  armies  are  about  disappearing  at  their  respective 
exits,  the  two  color-sergeants  with  the  American  flag  will  retire 
slowly,  walking  backwards,  into  the  woods. 

VI.  The  Struggle  for  a  Better  National  Life, — 1912.     (Real- 
istic.)    As  a  musical  transition  from  the  last  scene,  some  song 
like  The  Swanee  River  should  be  sung  and  played  here.     This 
episode  to  have  vital  significance  must  be  based  on  the  local 
conditions  of  the  town  that  is  giving  the  pageant  and  have  direct 
application  to  the  problem  of  its  best  development.     It  must 
therefore  be  locally  written.     It  thus  affords  opportunity  for 
different  and  original  treatment  in  each  locality.     Some  sugges- 
tion as  to  the  kind  of  relation  and  of  incident  that  may  be  suc- 
cessfully used  in  this  episode  can  be  gathered  from  the  oppressed 
of  the  present  day  in  The  Approach  of  Liberty.     To  the  local 
writer  of  this  episode  there  must  come  the  question,  "What  is  the 


16 

particular  problem  of  this  community?  What  is  the  public 
question  whose  solution  is  essential  to  the  best  welfare  and  de- 
velopment of  the  people  of  this  town?"  That  he  must  study  out 
and  dramatize  in  a  fair,  human,  impartial  spirit.  He  must 
present  both  sides.  It  is  dramatically  essential,  for  without 
some  truth  and  right  on  both  sides  there  is  no  real  problem,  and 
there  is  no  considerable  human  interest.  The  struggle  of  to-day 
is  in  its  chief  features  certainly  a  struggle  against  conditions. 
This  fact  makes  the  most  serious  problem  and  it  makes  a  play 
without  a  villain,  which  is  really  the  most  dramatic  and  the  most 
interesting  kind  of  play.  If  the  town  is  in  a  mining  or  a  manufac- 
turing district,  the  question  of  capital  and  labor  will  doubtless 
furnish  the  substance  of  the  episode ;  if  the  town  is  in  a  farming 
region,  the  agricultural  isolation  and  the  discouragement  of  the 
rural  problem  will  determine  the  character  of  the  episode.  It 
will  naturally  be  difficult  or  impossible  to  define  or  suggest  in 
the  episode  the  correct  solution  of  the  problem.  The  little  play 
must  probably,  to  be  true  to  life,  be  without  an  end,  without  a 
denouement.  But  it  can  show  or  suggest  a  sincere  attitude  on  the 
part  of  each  side  and  indicate  the  underlying  public  spirit  that  is, 
however  incomprehensible  to  others,  at  the  bottom  of  the  heart 
of  all  classes  and  kinds  of  American  people.  The  action  of  the 
episode  can  point  forward,  with  the  flag  of  Hope  flying,  to  the 
common  unanimity  which  will  ultimately  bring  about  the  better 
national  life  for  which  the  whole  country  is  striving,  in  days  that 
may  eventually  prove  to  have  been  wise  and  successful,  or  not  as 
wise  as  they  might  have  been.  The  essential  is  that  the  episode 
shall  hold,  in  the  midst  of  a  picture  of  actual  present  struggle, 
the  confident  hope  that  will  put  vigor  into  action,  that  will 
extend  the  soldier's  good  hand  of  understanding  to  the  other 
side  and  that  will  in  the  end  bring  about  the  solidarity  of  a  united 
nation.  This  is  the  great  human  essential.  This  it  is  that 
will  bring  about  the  Triumph  of  Freedom. 

VII.  America.  (Symbolical.)  Enter  from  the  woods  at  the 
right  back,  Liberty,  Democracy,  Industry,  Health  and  Patriot- 
ism. They  take  their  places  in  the  center  back  of  the  grounds. 
Then  from  all  sides  come  groups  of  the  people  who  have  taken 
part  in  the  pageant,  from  the  slaves  to  the  people  of  the  last 
episode.  They  bring  in  with  them,  group  by  group,  sections  of  a 
dais  and  throne,  white  and  of  classical  design.  This  they  build 
together,  each  group  adding  its  section  and  then  withdrawing 


17 

to  its  appointed  position  in  the  final  tableau.  When  it  is  com- 
plete, all  turn  toward  Liberty  with  upraised  hands  in  acclama- 
tion and  invite  her  to  ascend  the  steps  to  the  throne.  Democ- 
racy, Industry  and  Health  go  back  into  the  woods  and  bring 
forth  the  Sword  of  Justice,  the  Shield  of  the  United  States  and 
the  American  Flag.  These  they  bring  to  Patriotism  who  re- 
ceives them,  one  by  one,  and  invests  Liberty  with  them,  first  the 
Sword  which  Health  brings,  then  the  Shield  which  Industry 
brings,  and  last  the  Flag  which  Democracy  brings.  They  then, 
amid  the  acclamations  of  all,  escort  Liberty,  now  invested  in  her 
character  of  America,  to  the  dais.  Liberty  mounts  the  steps 
and  takes  her  place  standing  in  front  of  the  throne,  the  other 
four  standing  on  the  steps.  As  she  takes  her  place,  America 
raises  the  Flag  high  over  the  heads  of  the  Pageant.  Instantly, 
with  orchestra  and  voices,  all  burst  forth  singing  The  Star- 
Spangled  Banner.  Still  singing  the  groups  of  the  Pageant  pass 
in  review  before  America,  until  the  present  day  people  come  who 
open  out  to  form  an  escort.  America  descends  from  the  dais, 
and  followed  by  Patriotism,  Democracy,  Industry  and  Health, 
and  escorted  by  the  people  of  the  present,  passes  out  to  the  front 
after  the  procession  of  the  Pageant. 


Episode:    The   Declaration   of   Independence 


THE  CHARACTERS  REPRESENTED 

JOHN  HANCOCK,  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  President  of  the  Congress. 
CHARLES  THOMSON,  of  Pennsylvania,  Secretary  of  the  Congress. 
REV.  JACOB  DUCHE,  Chaplain  of  the  Congress. 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 
Josiah  Bartlett, 
Wm.  Whipple, 
Matthew  Thornton.* 

MASSACHUSETTS  BAY 
Sam'l  Adams, 
John  Adams, 
Robt.  Treat  Paine, 
Elbridge  Gerry. 

RHODE  ISLAND. 
Step.  Hopkins, 
William  Ellery. 

CONNECTICUT. 
Roger  Sherman, 
Samuel  Huntington, 
Wm.  Williams,* 
Oliver  Wolcutt.* 

NEW  YORK. 
Geo.  Clinton,  f 
John  Alsop.f 
R.  R.  Livingston.f 
Henry  Wisner.f 
Wm.  Floyd.t 
Phil.  Livingston,! 
Frans.  Lewis,  J 
Lewis  Morris.  J 


NEW  JERSEY. 
Richard  Stockton, 
Jno.  Witherspoon, 
Fras.  Hopkinson, 
John  Hart, 
Abra.  Clark. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 
John  Dickinson,§ 
Robt.  Morris,}! 
Benja.  Franklin, 
John  Morton, 
James  Wilson, 
Thomas  Willing,** 
Charles  Humphreys,** 
Benjamin  Rush,* 
Geo.  Clymer,* 
Jas.  Smith,* 
Geo.  Taylor,* 
Geo.  Ross.* 

DELAWARE. 
Caesar  Rodney, 
Tho.  M'Kean, 
Geo.  Read.ft 

MARYLAND. 

Samuel  Chase, tt 
Wm.  Paca, 


Thos.  Stone, 
Charles  Carroll, 

of  Carrollton,* 
John  Rogers.§§ 

VIRGINIA. 
George  Wythe,* 
Richard  Henry  Lee.tJ 
Th.  Jefferson, 
Benja.  Harrison, 
Thos.  Nelson,  Jr., 
Francis  Lightfoot  Lee, 
Carter  Braxton. 

NORTH  CAROLINA. 
Wm.  Hooper,* 
Joseph  Hewes, 
John  Penn. 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 
Edward  Rutledge, 
Thomas  Hey  ward,  Jr., 
Thomas  Lynch,  Jr., 
Arthur  Middleton. 

GEORGIA. 
Button  Gwinnett, 
Lyman  Hall, 
Geo.  Walton. 


Also  a  small  boy,  who  stands  by  the  side  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Congress, 
acting  as  a  page  for  the  President  and  the  Secretary;  and  an  officer  of  the 
Continental  Army. 

*  Not  a  member  of  the  Congress  at  the  time  of  vote,  but  signed  later. 
f  Did  not  vote  because  lacking  instructions;  not  a  member  of  the  Congress 
at  the  time  of  the  signing,  and  did  not  sign  the  Declaration. 

J  Did  not  vote  because  lacking  instructions,  but  later,  having  received  in- 
structions, signed. 

§  Absented  himself  at  the  time  of  the  vote,  and  did  not  sign  later. 
||  Absented  himself  at  the  time  of  the  vote,  but  signed  later. 
**  Voted  against  the  Declaration,  and  did  not  sign  later. 
ft  Voted  against  the  Declaration,  but  signed  later. 
it  Absent  from  Congress  at  time  of  vote;  signed  later. 
§§  Not  a  member  of  the  Congress  at  time  of  signing. 

18 


19 

This  list  includes  all  of  the  Signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  and  also,  so  far  as  the  names  could  be  obtained, 
those  who  were  members  of  the  Congress  on  July  2nd  and  4th 
and  therefore  voted  or  had  the  right  to  vote  on  the  question.  In 
all  cases  it  may  not  be  regarded  essential  to  represent  all  the 
members  of  the  Congress,  an  appropriate  selection  being  made 
to  suit  the  local  desires  and  circumstances.  The  names  of  the 
Signers  are  here  given  in  the  spelling  of  their  signatures  to  the 
Declaration. 

THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE 

(The  members  of  the  Congress  come  in  from  various  points  at 
the  back  and  on  the  left  in  small  groups,  talking  earnestly  with 
each  other.  They  go  each  to  his  chair  and  there  stand  or  sit 
until  the  entrance  of  John  Hancock,  attended  by  Charles  Thom- 
son, who  has  with  him  certain  books  and  papers.  As  John  Han- 
cock goes  up  to  the  Chair,  all  cease  talking,  rise  and  stand  facing 
him  until  he  sits.  Then  all  sit  down.) 

JOHN  HANCOCK — The  Congress  will  come  to  order.  The  Secre- 
tary will  call  the  roll  by  Colonies. 

CHARLES  THOMSON — (Calls  the  roll,  mentioning  the  name  of  the 
colony  first  and  then  the  names  of  the  members  in  a  clear 
distinct  voice,  each  member  answering  to  his  name.     It  may 
not  be  necessary  to  take  time  to  call  the  complete  roll,  but 
enough  should  be  called  to  give  the  effect  and  each  colony 
should  be  called  with  one  or  two  of  its  delegates.) 
The  roll  has  been  called  and  a  quorum  is  present. 
JOHN  HANCOCK. — The  Chaplain  of  the  Congress  will  offer  prayer. 
REV.  JACOB  DUCHE. — O  God,  our  Heavenly  Ruler,  Whose  im- 
mutable law  is  Justice  and  Whose  breath  is  Liberty,  guide 
Thou   the   deliberations   of   this   Congress,    that   all   their 
thoughts  and  acts  may  be  for  the  good  of  the  American 
people,  for  the  welfare  of  mankind  and  for  the  glory  of  Thy 
Name,  Thou  Creator  of  the  World.     Amen. 
JOHN  HANCOCK. — Is  it  the  pleasure  of  the  Congress  to  proceed 

with  the  order  of  the  day? 

A  MEMBER  OF  THE  CONGRESS. — Before  we  proceed  with  the 
order  of  the  day,  I  wish  to  move  you  that  "an  application 
be  made  to  the  committee  of  safety  of  Pennsylvania  for  a 
supply  of  flints  for  the  troops  at  New  York:  and  that  the 
colony  of  Maryland  and  Delaware  be  requested  to  embody 


2O 

their  militia  for  the  flying  camp,  with  all  expedition,  and  to 
march  them  without  delay  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia."* 

ANOTHER  MEMBER. — I  second  the  motion. 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — It  is  moved  and  seconded.  Are  you  ready 
for  the  question?  Those  in  favor  will  say  "Aye." 

ALL. — Aye. 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — Those  opposed,  "No."  (Silence.)  It  is 
carried.  Any  other  matter?  Agreeable  to  the  order  of  the 
day,  the  Congress  will  take  into  their  further  consideration 
"certain  resolutions  respecting  independency"  moved  by 
Mr.  Richard  Henry  Lee  of  Virginia  and  seconded  by  Mr.  J. 
Adams  of  Massachusetts  Bay  on  June  7th,  and  which  were 
referred  to  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  Congress.  Is  the 
Committee  ready  to  report? 

BENJAMIN  HARRISON  (rising). — It  is. 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — Mr.  Harrison  of  Virginia,  as  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  of  the  Whole. 

BENJAMIN  HARRISON. — The  Committee  of  the  Whole  report  to 
the  Congress  with  its  approval  the  resolution  of  June  7th, 
"That  these  United  Colonies  are,  and  of  right  ought  to  be, 
free  and  independent  States,  that  they  are  absolved  from 
all  allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  and  that  all  political 
connection  between  them  and  the  State  of  Great  Britain  is, 
and  ought  to  be  totally  dissolved."!  The  Committee  also 
had  referred  to  it  "least  any  time  should  be  lost  in  case  the 
Congress  agree  to  this  resolution"!  the  draft  of  a  declaration 
written  by  Mr.  Jefferson  of  Virginia  in  behalf  of  the  spe- 
cial Committee  on  the  Declaration,  consisting  of  Mr.  Jeffer- 
son, Mr.  J.  Adams  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  Dr.  Franklin  of 
Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Sherman  of  Connecticut,  and  Mr.  R.  R. 
Livingston  of  New  York.  The  Committee  reports  this 
draft  to  Congress  with  its  approval.  And,  Sir,  I  move  you 
its  adoption. 

SEVERAL  MEMBERS — (rising). — I  second  it. 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — The  adoption  of  the  "resolution  respecting 
independency"  in  the  form  of  the  drafted  Declaration  is 
moved  and  seconded.     Are  there  any  remarks? 
(Mr.  Dickinson  rises.     All  turn  with  respectful  attention 
toward  him.) 

'Journal  of  the  Second  Continental  Congress,  Thursday,  July  4th,  1776. 
t  Journal  of  the  Second  Continental  Congress,  June  7th,  1776. 
J  Memorandum  on  the  original  draft  of  the  resolution. 


21 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — Mr.  Dickinson,  of  Pennsylvania. 

JOHN  DICKINSON. — (During  this  address  some  of  those  who 
agreed  with  Mr.  Dickinson,  such  as  Mr.  Willing,  Mr. 
Humphries  and  Mr.  Read,  should  nod  their  approval  of  his 
arguments.) 

"Mr.  President,  that  the  time  will  come  when  these  colonies 
must  declare  themselves  independent  of  the  British  crown,  I 
believe;  but  it  is  clear  to  my  mind,  I  am  powerfully  per- 
suaded, in  spite  of  the  overwhelming  favor  with  which  the 
proposition  has  met,  that  this  is  not  the  right  time  to  declare 
such  independence.  I  value  the  love  of  my  country  as  I 
ought,  but  I  value  my  country  more,  and  I  desire  this  illus- 
trious assembly  to  witness  the  integrity,  if  not  the  policy  of 
my  conduct.  The  first  campaign  will  be  decisive  of  the 
controversy.  The  declaration  will  not  strengthen  us  by 
one  man,  or  by  the  least  supply,  while  it  may  expose  our 
soldiers  to  additional  cruelties  and  outrages.  Without  some 
prelusory  trials  of  our  strength,  we  ought  not  to  commit 
our  country  upon  the  alternative  where  to  recede  would 
be  infamy,  and  to  persist  might  be  destruction.  With 
other  powers  it  would  rather  injure  than  avail  us.  Foreign 
aid  will  not  be  obtained  but  by  our  actions  in  the  field,  which 
are  the  only  evidences  of  our  union  and  vigor  that  will  be 
respected.  Before  such  an  irrevocable  step  shall  be  taken, 
we  ought  to  know  the  disposition  of  the  great  powers  and 
how  far  they  will  permit  any  one  or  more  of  them  to  inter- 
fere. The  erection  of  an  independent  empire  on  this  con- 
tinent is  a  phenomenon  in  the  world;  its  effects  will  be 
immense,  and  may  vibrate  round  the  globe.  The  formation 
of  our  governments  and  an  agreement  on  the  terms  of  our 
confederation  ought  to  precede  the  assumption  of  our  station 
among  sovereigns.  When  this  is  done,  and  the  people  per- 
ceive that  they  and  their  posterity  are  to  live  under  well 
regulated  constitutions,  they  will  be  encouraged  to  look 
forward  to  independence,  as  completing  the  noble  system 
of  their  political  happiness.  The  objects  nearest  to  them 
now  are  enveloped  in  clouds,  and  those  more  distant  appear 
confused ;  the  relation  one  citizen  is  to  bear  to  another,  and 
the  connection  one  State  is  to  have  with  another,  they  do 
not,  cannot  know.  The  boundaries  of  the  colonies  ought  to 
be  fixed  before  the  declaration.  The  unlocated  lands  ought 


22 

also  to  be  solemnly  appropriated  to  the  benefit  of  all.  Upon 
the  whole,  when  things  shall  thus  be  deliberately  rendered 
firm  at  home  and  favorable  abroad,  then  let  America, 
'Attolens  humeris  famam  et  fata  nepotum,'  bearing  up  her 
glory  and  the  destiny  of  her  descendants,  advance  with  ma- 
jestic steps  and  assume  her  station  among  the  sovereigns  of 
the  world."* 

(Mr.  Dickinson  has  evidently  made  an  impression.  He  sits 
down.  No  one  gets  up  to  answer  him.  Some  here  and 
there  whisper  to  each  other  seriously.  It  is  warm  and  some 
of  the  members  fan  themselves  with  their  hats,  or  quietly 
mop  their  heads  with  their  large  handkerchiefs.  There  is 
increasing  looking  about  to  see  if  someone  will  not  get  up 
and  speak.  Finally  Mr.  Stockton  rises.) 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — Mr.  Stockton  of  New  Jersey. 

RICHARD  STOCKTON. — Mr.  President,  the  delegation  from  New 
Jersey  has  but  recently  arrived ;  we  have  not  been  privileged 
to  hear  the  debates  on  this  question ;  and  we  strongly  desire 
to  hear  it  further  discussed  before  it  comes  to  vote. 
(There  are  manifestations  of  assent,  but  all  is  silence.  All 
eyes  are  turned  upon  John  Adams.) f 

A  MEMBER  OF  THE  CONGRESS. — "  Let  the  gentlemen  be  gratified." 
(Still  there  is  silence.  Edward  Rutledge  goes  over  to  John 
Adams  smiling.) 

EDWARD  RUTLEDGE  (to  Adams). — "Nobody  will  speak  but  you 
upon  this  subject.  You  have  all  the  topics  so  ready  that 
you  must  satisfy  the  gentlemen  from  New  Jersey." 

A  MEMBER  OF  THE  CONGRESS. — "You  must  recapitulate  the 
arguments,  at  least." 

JOHN  ADAMS  (also  smiling,  to  Rutledge). — "It  has  so  much  the 
air  of  exhibiting  like  an  actor  or  gladiator,  for  the  enter- 
tainment of  the  audience,  that  I  am  ashamed  to  repeat  what 
I  have  said  here  twenty  times  before,  and  there  is  nothing 
new  that  can  be  advanced  by  me." 

RICHARD  STOCKTON. — We  earnestly  hope  that  Mr.  Adams  will 

*This  is  the  substance  of  John  Dickinson's  speech  as  conjectured  by  Rich- 
ard Frothingham  in  his  "The  Rise  of  the  Republic  of  the  United  States,"  page 
535.  It  is  evidently  compiled  from  Dickinson's  Vindication,  written  in  1783, 
for  which  see  The  Life  and  Writings  of  John  Dickinson,  Vol.  I.  Appendix  V. 
Pages  364-414,  but  particularly  pages  368-373. 

t  The  conversation  that  here  follows  is  found  in  The  Life  and  Works  of 
John  Adams.  Vol.  Ill,  pages  55-58;  also  given  in  Frothingham,  page  534. 


23 

nonetheless  favor  us  with  a  few  words  of  his  judgment  on 
this  matter. 

(Mr.  Adams  rises,  bowing  courteously  to  Mr.  Stockton  and 
then  addresses  the  Chair.  All  turn  to  listen  to  him  with 
manifest  anticipation.) 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — Mr.  J.  Adams  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 

JOHN  ADAMS  (at  first  with  quiet  dignity,  later  as  he  throws  him- 
self into  his  subject,  becoming  more  and  more  impassioned 
and  impressive). — Mr.  President,  "this  is  the  first  time  of 
my  life  that  I  have  ever  wished  for  the  talents  and  eloquence 
of  the  ancient  orators  of  Greece  and  Rome,  for  I  am  very 
sure  that  none  of  them  ever  had  before  him  a  question  of 
more  importance  to  his  country  and  to  the  world."*  Not- 
withstanding the  abilities  that  have  been  displayed  and  the 
arguments  that  have  been  produced  by  the  gentleman  who 
has  just  spoken,  and  the  eloquence  with  which  those  argu- 
ments have  been  enforced,  I  cannot  agree  with  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  gentleman  that  this  is  not  the  time  to  declare  to 
the  world  the  independence  of  these  colonies.  This  is  the 
time,  now,  this  very  day!  I  agree  with  the  gentleman 
only  with  respect  to  the  importance  of  this  issue.  This 
question  is  "the  greatest  question  that  has  ever  been  de- 
bated in  America,  and  a  greater,  perhaps,  never  was,  nor 
will  be  decided  among  men."t 

"When  I  look  back  to  the  year  1761  and  recollect  the 
argument  concerning  writs  of  assistance  in  the  superior 
court,  which  I  have  hitherto  considered  as  the  commence- 
ment of  the  controversy  between  Great  Britain  and  America, 
and  run  through  the  whole  period  from  that  time  to  this,  and 
recollect  the  series  of  political  events,  the  chain  of  causes  and 
effects,  I  am  surprised  at  the  suddenness  as  well  as  the  great- 
ness of  this  revolution.  Britain  has  been  filled  with  folly, 
and  America  with  wisdom.  At  least  this  is  my  judgment. 
Time  must  determine.  It  is  the  will  of  Heaven  that  the  two 
countries  should  be  sundered  forever.  It  may  be  the  will 
of  Heaven  that  America  shall  suffer  calamities  still  more 
wasting  and  distresses  yet  more  dreadful.  If  this  is  to  be 
the  case,  it  will  have  this  good  effect  at  least ;  it  will  inspire 

*  See  the  Life  and  Works  of  John  Adams,  Vol.  Ill,  page  55. 
fFrom  a  letter  of  John  Adams  to  his  wife,  dated  July  3rd,  1776;  see  the 
Life  and  Works  of  John  Adams,  Vol.  I,  pages  230-232. 


24 

us  with  many  virtues  which  we  have  not,  and  correct  many 
errors,  follies  and  vices,  which  threaten  to  disturb,  dis- 
honor and  destroy  us.  The  furnace  of  affliction  produces 
refinement  in  States  as  well  as  in  individuals.  And  the 
new  governments  we  are  assuming,  in  every  part  will  re- 
quire a  purification  from  our  vices,  and  an  augmentation  of 
our  virtues,  or  they  will  be  no  blessings."* 

It  were  indeed  well  for  us  if  we  could  have  all  the  ad- 
vantages enumerated  by  the  gentleman  before  we  take  this 
irrevocable  step.  But  we  cannot  have  them.  The  prin- 
ciple the  gentleman  and  his  friends  concede.  They  say 
there  is  disadvantage  and  danger  in  immediate  action.  Mr. 
President,  only  in  immediate  action  by  this  Congress  is 
there  hope  of  safety.  Our  soldiers  are  in  the  field.  As  long 
as  we  postpone  action  on  this  resolution,  they  are  rebels. 
But  this  Declaration  of  Independence  will  give  them  a 
country  and  endow  them  with  the  equal  rights  of  combatants 
at  war.  Then  by  our  boldness  and  by  our  deeds  we  will 
win  the  respect  and  the  recognition  of  the  foreign  powers, 
and  raise  a  standard  for  the  unity  of  America  to  which  these 
colonies  will  speedily  resort. 

"You  think  me  transported  with  enthusiasm,  but  I  am 
not.  I  am  well  aware  of  the  toil,  and  blood,  and  treasure 
that  it  will  cost  us  to  maintain  this  declaration  and  support 
and  defend  these  States.  Yet  through  all  the  gloom,  I  can 
see  the  rays  of  ravishing  light  and  glory.  I  can  see  that  the 
end  is  worth  all  the  means.  And  that  posterity  will  triumph 
in  this  day's  transaction,  even  although  we  should  rue  it, 
which  I  trust  in  God  we  shall  not."* 

(As  Mr.  Adams  sits  down  there  is  an  outburst  of  applause, 
indicating  that  he  has  expressed  the  sentiments  of  most  of 
the  members  present,  which  is  however  quickly  suppressed 
as  appreciative  of  the  critical  importance,  the  solemnity, 
of  the  impending  action;  but  it  breaks  forth  again  with 
exclamations  of  "Hear,  hear!"  and  calls  for  the  question.) 

RICHARD  STOCKTON  and  OTHERS. — Question!     Question! 

JOHN  DICKINSON. — Mr.  President, — 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — Mr.  Dickinson. 

(All  are  again  respectfully  silent  as  Dickinson  speaks,  evin- 
cing their  personal  regard  for  him.) 
*From  the  same  letter  of  John  Adams  to  his  wife,  dated  July  3rd,  1776. 


25 

JOHN  DICKINSON. — Mr.  President,  "two  rules  I  have  laid  down 
for  myself  throughout  this  contest,  to  which  I  have  con- 
stantly adhered,  and  still  design  to  adhere:  first  on  all 
occasions  where  I  am  called  upon,  as  a  trustee  for  my 
countrymen,  to  deliberate  on  questions  important  to  their 
happiness,  disdaining  all  personal  advantages  to  be  derived 
from  a  suppression  of  my  real  sentiments,  and  defying  all 
dangers  to  be  risked  by  a  declaration  of  them,  openly  to 
avow  them;  and  secondly,  after  thus  discharging  this  duty, 
whenever  the  public  resolutions  are  taken,  to  regard  them, 
though  opposite  to  my  opinion,  as  sacred,  because  they  lead 
to  measures  in  which  the  Commonwealth  must  be  inter- 
ested, and  to  join  in  supporting  them  as  earnestly  as  if  my 
voice  had  been  given  for  them."* 

My  judgment  is  against  the  passage  of  the  declaration 
at  this  time.  I  therefore  deem  it  my  duty,  as  it  is  my  pref- 
erence, not  to  vote  on  the  question,  and  I  intend  to  withdraw 
before  the  vote  is  taken.  But  in  the  vote  that  is  imminent, 
wise  or  at  this  time  unwise,  I  recognize  the  decision  of  my 
country,  "which  I  am  resolved  by  every  impulse  of  my  soul 
to  uphold,  and  to  stand  or  fall  with  her  in  that  scheme  of 
freedom  which  she  will  have  chosen."*  While  I  will  not 
vote  for  this  declaration,  I  will  uphold  it,  and  I  therefore 
shall  within  the  week  march  to  Elizabeth  Town  against  my 
country's  enemies  at  the  head  of  my  brigade  of  five  battal- 
ions of  the  Philadelphia  Associators. 

(First  John  Adams  and  then  the  rest  rise  and  bow  to  Mr. 
Dickinson;  he  bows  in  return  and  starts  to  withdraw. 
Robert  Morris  goes  over  to  Mr.  Dickinson  and  grasps  his 
hand.) 

ROBERT  MORRIS. — "In  my  poor  opinion,  it  is  an  improper  time, 
and  will  not  promote  the  interest  of  America. "f 
(John  Dickinson  and  Robert  Morris  go  out  together  by  the 
entrance  at  the  right  of  the  audience.     The  members  re- 
sume their  seats.) 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — Before  putting  the  question  to  you  for  vote, 
is  it  your  pleasure  again  to  hear  the  draft  that  has  been  re- 
ported to  you  ? 

SEVERAL  MEMBERS. — The  Declaration!    The  Declaration! 

*From  a  speech  by  John  Dickinson  delivered  in  Congress  in  1779,  given 
in  Life  and  Writings  of  John  Dickinson,  Vol.  I,  p.  204. 

t  From  Life  and  Writings  of  John  Dickinson,  Vol.  I,  page  197. 


26 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — Will  the  Committee  present  their  report? 
Will  Mr.  Jefferson  read  the  proposed  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence? 

(Thomas  Jefferson  rises,  and  the  other  members  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  the  Declaration  also  rise,  and  go  over  to  a  position 
at  the  left  of  the  President,  corresponding  to  that  occupied 
by  the  table  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Congress.  The  group 
stand  together  while  Mr.  Jefferson  reads  the  first  two  and  the 
last  paragraphs  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.) 

THOMAS    JEFFERSON.— "The    Unanimous    Declaration    of    the 
thirteen  United  States  of  America,"  etc. 
"When  in  the  course  of  human  events,  it  becomes  necessary" 

— to "declare   the  causes  which   impel  them  to  the 

separation." 

"We  hold  these  truths  to  be  self-evident"-    — to —    -"and 

to  provide  new  Guards  for  their  future  security." 

"We,  therefore,  the  representatives  of  the  United  States  of 

America," to "we  mutually  pledge  to  each  other 

our  lives,  our  fortunes,  and  our  sacred  honor." 
(Thomas  Jefferson  lays  the  Declaration  of  Independence  on 
the  table  before  the  President  of  the  Congress,  and  the 
members  of  the  Committee  take  their  seats,  amid  mani- 
festations of  cordial  approval.) 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — Are  you  ready  for  the  vote? 

SEVERAL  MEMBERS. — Question!     Question! 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — The  Secretary  of  the  Congress  will  take  the 
vote  by  call  of  the  roll  by  Colonies. 

(The  various  delegations  quietly  among  themselves  im- 
mediately engage  in  deciding  the  vote  of  their  Colonies.  As 
Charles  Thomson  calls  the  name  of  the  Colonies  in  turn, 
from  north  to  south,  a  member  of  the  Congress  from  that 
Colony  rises  and  declares  the  vote  of  the  Colony,  except 
New  York.) 

CHARLES  THOMSON. — New  Hampshire. 

A  MEMBER  FROM  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. — New  Hampshire  casts  her 
vote  for  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

CHARLES  THOMSON  (after  taking  the  votes  of  Massachusetts 
Bay,  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut). — New  York. 

A  MEMBER  FROM  NEW  YORK. — The  New  York  delegation  has 
not  yet  received  answer  to  its  despatches  to  the  Provincial 
Congress,  and  are  accordingly-at  this  time  not  authorized  to 
vote  for  Independence,  as  it  otherwise  should  do. 


27 

CHARLES  THOMSON  (after  taking  the  rest  of  the  votes  from  New 
Jersey  to  Georgia ;  to  John  Hancock). — It  is  passed.  Twelve 
colonies.  Unanimous. 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — The  Declaration  of  Independence  is  passed, 
by  the  unanimous  vote  of  twelve  colonies. 
(There  is  a  hush  of  absolute  silence  for  a  moment,  all  feeling 
the  tremendous  import  of  their  action.) 

JOHN  ADAMS  (amid  growing  but  suppressed  excitement). — 
"Heaven  prosper  this  new-born  republic,  and  make  it  more 
glorious  than  any  former  republics."* 

EDWARD  RUTLEDGE  (after  being  recognized  by  the  Chair). — Mr. 
President,  in  view  of  the  momentous  importance  of  this 
Declaration,  I  move  you  that  the  members  of  the  Congress 
sign  this  paper  personally;  that  it  be  authenticated  and 
printed;  and  that  it  be  proclaimed  in  each  of  the  United 
States,  and  at  the  head  of  the  army.f 

A  MEMBER  OF  THE  CONGRESS. — I  second  it. 

JOHN  HANCOCK  (after  putting  the  motion  and  declaring  it  carried, 
as  he  takes  a  quill  and  signs  his  name  to  the  Declaration  in 
his  large  handwriting). — There!  John  Bull  can  read  that 
without  spectacles !  J  (then  more  seriously  as  he  shakes  sand 
on  his  signature)  But,  my  friends,  I  must  impress  upon  you 
the  necessity  of  our  all  hanging  together  in  this  matter. 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN  (going  up  to  the  table  to  sign,  with  several 
other  members). — "Yes,  indeed;  we  must  all  hang  together, 
or  assuredly  we  shall  all  hang  separately."  (Those  standing 
nearest  laugh,  especially  Benjamin  Harrison.) 

BENJAMIN  HARRISON  (who  is  a  very  large  and  heavily  built  man, 
turning  upon  Elbridge  Gerry,  standing  next  to  him,  who 
is  very  slight  and  small). — "When  it  comes  to  the  hanging, 
I  shall  have  the  advantage  of  you ;  it  will  be  all  over  with 
me  long  before  you  have  done  kicking  in  the  air." 

THOMAS  JEFFERSON. — Truly  I  think  we  may  say  that  Nature 
herself  is  an  accomplice  with  us  in  this  business,  egging  us  on 
to  this  Declaration,  for  the  heat  in  this  room  is  oppressive, 
and  the  flies  from  yonder  stable, — (with  a  shake  of  his  head) 

*  See  Frothingham,  p.  533. 

t  Adapted  from  two  resolutions  in  the  Journal  of  the  Second  Continental 
Congress,  July  4th,  1776. 

t  These  humorous  remarks  are  told  by  John  T.  Morse,  in  his  Thomas 
Jefferson,  in  the  American  Statesmen  Series. 


28 

— I  believe  not  a  man  here  but  would  prefer  treason  to  en- 
during longer  the  bites  of  these  flies  through  his  thin  silk 
stockings.* 

(Robert  Morris  returns  and  engages  some  of  his  associates 
in  earnest  conversation.  Enter  hurriedly  an  officer  of  the 
Continental  Army,  in  buff  and  blue  uniform,  booted  and 
spurred,  his  boots  and  clothes  covered  with  mud;  he  goes 
directly  up  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Congress.) 

OFFICER. — Despatches  for  the  President  of  the  Congress  from 
General  Washington. 

CHARLES   THOMAS. — Mr.    Hancock,    despatches    from   General 
Washington. 

(The  officer  turns  to  Mr.  Hancock,  salutes,  takes  from  inside 
his  coat  a  flat  packet  and  hands  it  to  Mr.  Hancock.  Mr. 
Hancock  returns  the  salute,  takes  and  opens  the  packet, 
looks  at  it  and  hands  it  to  Mr.  Thomson.) 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — Gentlemen,  a  letter  from  the  General  of  the 
Army.     The  Secretary  will  read  the  letter. 
(All  immediately  come  to  order,  taking  their  seats  and  giving 
close  attention.) 

CHARLES  THOMSON  (reads). — To  The  President  of  the  Congress, 

New  York,  July  the  3rd,  I776.f 

Sir,  Since  I  had  the  honor  of  addressing  you  and  on  the 
same  day  several  ships  more  arrived  within  the  Hook  making 
the  number  that  came  in  then,  no,  and  there  remains  no 
doubt  of  the  whole  of  the  fleet  from  Halifax  being  now  here. 
Yesterday  Evening  50  of  'em  came  into  the  Bay  and  anchored 
on  the  Staten  Island  side.  Their  views  I  cannot  precisely 
determine  but  am  extremely  apprehensive  as  a  part  of  'em 
only  came,  that  they  mean  to  surround  the  Island  and  secure 
the  whole  stock  upon  it. 

Our  reinforcements  of  militia  are  but  small  yet — their 
amount  I  can  not  ascertain,  having  not  been  able  to  procure 
a  return.  However,  I  trust,  if  the  Enemy  make  an  attack 
they  will  meet  with  a  repulse,  as  I  have  the  pleasure  to  in- 
form you,  that  an  agreeable  spirit  and  willingness  for  Action 
seem  to  animate  and  pervade  the  whole  of  our  Troops. 

*  These  humorous  remarks  are  told  by  John  T.  Morse,  in  his  Thomas 
Jefferson,  in  the  American  Statesmen  Series. 

f  Parts  of  the  original  letter  have  been  here  omitted.  The  letter  is  to  be 
found  in  The  Writings  of  George  Washington,  edited  by  Worthington  Chaun- 
cey  Ford,  Vol.  IV,  page  200. 


29 

(But)  as  it  is  difficult  to  determine  what  Objects  the 
Enemy  may  have  in  contemplation,  and  whether  they  may 
not  detach  some  part  of  their  force  to  Amboy  and  to  ravage 
that  part  of  the  Country,  I  submit  it  to  Congress  whether  it 
may  not  be  expedient  for  'em  to  repeat  and  press  home  their 
requests  to  the  different  Governments  to  furnish  their 
Quotas  with  all  possible  dispatch. 

I  must  entreat  your  Attention  to  an  application  I  made 
some  time  ago  for  Flints  we  are  extremely  deficient  in  this 
necessary  article  and  shall  be  greatly  distressed  if  we  cannot 
obtain  a  supply.  Of  Lead  we  have  a  sufficient  quantity 
for  the  whole  Campaign,  taken  off  the  Houses  here. 

Esteeming  it  of  infinite  Importance  to  prevent  the 
Enemy  from  getting  fresh  provisions  and  Horses  for  their 
Waggons,  Artillery,  &c.,  I  gave  orders  to  a  party  of  our  men 
on  Staten  Island,  to  drive  the  stock  off  without  waiting  for 
the  Assistance  or  direction  of  the  Committee  there.  I  am 
this  minute  Informed  by  a  Gentleman  that  the  Committee 
of  Elizabeth  Town,  sent  their  Company  of  Light  Horse  on 
Monday  to  effect  it  and  that  some  of  their  Militia  was  to 
give  their  aid  yesterday. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  very  obedient  and  humble  servant, 

George  Washington 

General 

ROBERT  MORRIS. — Mr.  President,  this  calls  for  special  and  im- 
mediate attention.  I  move  you  that  "the  delegates  of  New 
York,  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania  be  a  committee  to 
confer  on  the  best  means  of  defending  the  colonies" — * 

JOHN  HANCOCK  (interrupting). — The  States,  now,  Mr.  Morris. 

ROBERT  MORRIS. — The  States  "of  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania; 
and  that  they  be  empowered  to  send  expresses  where  neces- 

M  sfc 

sary.  * 

(The  resolution  is  seconded,  put  to  vote  and  carried.) 
ROBERT  MORRIS. — I  further  move  you  "that  the  Secret  Com- 
mittee be  instructed  to  order  the  flints  belonging  to  the  con- 
tinent and  now  at  Rhode  Island  to  be  sent  to  the  general  at 
New  York"*  and  "that  the  Board  of  War  be  empowered  to 

*  These  resolutions  are  taken  from  the  Journal  of  the  Second  Continental 
Congress  for  July  4th,  1776;  there  are  only  some  minor  omissions  in  them. 


30 

employ  such  a  number  of  persons,  as  they  shall  find  neces- 
sary, to  manufacture  flints  for  the  continent;  and  to  apply 
to  the  respective  assemblies  of  the  United  American  States 
for  the  names  and  places  of  abode  of  persons  skilled  in  the 
manufactory  aforesaid,  and  of  the  places  in  their  respective 
states,  where  the  best  flint  stones  are  to  be  obtained,  with 
samples  of  the  same."* 

(This  resolution  also  is  promptly  passed.  Mr.  Morris  goes 
up  to  the  table  and  signs  the  Declaration.  At  this  there  is  a 
little  applause.) 

HENRY  WISNER. — I  understood  that  there  is  an  abundant  supply 
of  excellent  flint  stone  to  be  obtained  in  Orange  County,  in 
New  York. 

A  MEMBER  OF  THE  CONGRESS. — I  move  "that  Mr.  Wisner  be 
empowered  to  send  a  man,  at  the  public  expense,  to  Orange 
County,  for  a  sample  of  flint  stone. "f 

(This  resolution  is  passed.  Members  again  in  turn  go  up 
to  the  table  to  sign  the  Declaration.) 

CHARLES  THOMSON. — There  is  a  bill  here,  Mr.  "President,  that 
should  be  paid,  for  the  Trenton  express. 

A  MEMBER  OF  THE  CONGRESS. — I  move  "that  an  order  for  27 
shillings  or  3  54-90  dollars  be  drawn  on  the  treasurers,  in 
favour  of  the  express,  who  brought  the  despatches  from 
Trenton." 
(The  resolution  is  passed.) 

BENJAMIN  FRANKLIN. — Mr.  President,  measures  should  instantly 
be  taken  to  provide  a  seal  for  the  new  continental  govern- 
ment, with  suitable  device  upon  it. 

A  MEMBER  OF  THE  CONGRESS. — I  move  you  "that  Dr.  Franklin, 
Mr.  J.  Adams  and  Mr.  Jefferson  be  a  committee  to  bring  in  a 
device  for  a  seal  for  the  United  States  of  America. "f 
(The  resolution  is  passed.) 

JOHN  HANCOCK. — Are  there  any  further  matters  to  come  before 
the  Congress  before  the  adjournment? 

A  MEMBER  OF  THE  CONGRESS. — The  Secret  Committee  desire 
authorization  in  the  matter  of  the  sale  of  gun-powder.  I 
therefore  move  "that  the  Secret  Committee  be  instructed  to 
sell  25  Ib.  of  powder  to  John  Garrison  of  North  Carolina. "f 
(The  resolution  is  passed.) 

*  These  resolutions  are  taken  from  the  Journal  of  the  Second  Continental 
Congress  for  July  4th,  1776;  there  are  only  some  minor  omissions  in  them, 
t  From  the  Journal  of  the  Second  Continental  Congress  for  July  4th,  1776. 


JOHN  HANCOCK. — Unless  there  be  objection,  the  Congress  stands 
adjourned  "to  9  o'clock  to-Morrow."     (To  the  small  boy) 
Boy,  go  tell  your  grand-father  to  ring  the  bell ! 
(The  boy  runs  out  to  the  back.     The  Congress  rises,  and 
breaks  up  into  groups.) 

JOHN  ADAMS  (to  a  group  who  gather  round  him). — This  fourth 
"day  of  July,  1776,  will  be  the  most  memorable  epocha in 
the  history  of  America.  I  am  apt  to  believe  that  it  will  be 
celebrated  by  succeeding  generations  as  the  great  anniver- 
sary festival.  It  ought  to  be  commemorated  by  solemn 
acts  of  devotion  to  God  Almighty.  It  ought  to  be  solem- 
nized with  pomp  and  parade,  with  shows,  games,  sports,  guns, 
bells,  bonfires,  and  illuminations,  from  one  end  of  this  con- 
tinent to  the  other,  from  this  time  forward  forevermore."* 
(The  bell  in  the  City  Hall  begins  to  ring;  the  peal  is  taken 
up  by  all  the  bells  in  the  town.  Salutes  of  thirteen  guns  are 
also  fired  by  cannon  or  by  volleys  of  muskets.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  Congress  gather  in  two  groups  with  John  Han- 
cock and  the  other  prominent  members  in  the  front,  facing 
toward  the  entrance  at  the  left  of  the  grand-stand.  As 
soon  as  the  ringing  of  the  bells  ceases,  the  chorus  with  the 
instrumental  accompaniment  begins  to  sing  in  triumphant 
manner  "The  Hymn  to  Liberty.") 


NOTES  ON  THE  EPISODE  AND  ON  ITS  PERFORMANCE 
The  Episode.  In  writing  this  episode,  the  effort  has  been 
to  draw  a  picture  of  the  sessions  of  the  Second  Continental 
Congress  in  Philadelphia  when  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
was  voted  and  signed,  which  shall  within  the  narrow  compass  of 
a  pageant  episode  give  a  true  impression  of  that  great  occasion, 
and  represent  the  chief  leaders  in  a  just  light.  To  do  this  it  has 
of  course  been  necessary  to  use  considerable  freedom  with  the 
material.  Yet  little  if  anything  has  been  included  which  is  not 
historic  or  approximately  probable. 

The  progress  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  through  the 
Congress  was  as  follows:  On  Friday,  June  7th,  1776,  Richard 
Henry  Lee  of  Virginia  moved,  and  John  Adams  of  Massachu- 

This  is  taken  from  the  letter  of  John  Adams  to  his  wife,  dated  July  3rd, 
1776.  In  the  letter  he  says  "The  second  day  of  July"  etc.,  as  being  the  day 
on  which  Independence  was  decided  upon. 


32 

setts  Bay  seconded  "certain  resolutions  respecting  indepen- 
dency." Consideration  of  these  resolutions  was  fixed  for  the 
next  day,  Saturday,  June  8th,  at  10  o'clock.  The  resolutions 
were  again  considered  in  the  Committee  of  the  whole  Congress, 
on  Monday,  June  loth,  when  their  consideration  was  postponed 
for  three  weeks.  On  Monday,  July  1st,  the  debate  was  resumed 
in  the  Committee  of  the  Whole.  On  Tuesday,  July  2nd,  the 
consideration  was  continued,  the  resolutions  being  by  all  ac- 
counts powerfully  debated  by  John  Dickinson  of  Pennsylvania 
and  John  Adams.  It  was  then  voted  in  Committee  and  reported 
by  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the  Whole,  Benjamin 
Harrison  of  Virginia,  to  the  Congress,  and  was  that  day  by  the 
Congress  adopted  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  twelve  colonies — the 
New  York  delegation,  while  personally  in  favor  of  the  resolution, 
lacking  as  yet  authority  from  their  Provincial  Congress  to  vote 
in  favor  of  independence.  The  Committee  on  the  Draft  of  the 
Declaration,  consisting  of  Thomas  Jefferson  of  Virginia,  John 
Adams  of  Massachusetts,  Benjamin  Franklin  of  Pennsylvania, 
Roger  Sherman  of  Connecticut,  and  Robert  R.  Livingston  of 
New  York,  then,  on  the  same  day,  July  2nd,  reported,  and  their 
report  was  considered  in  the  Committee  of  the  Whole  and  in  the 
Congress  until  the  late  afternoon  of  Thursday,  July  4th,  1776, 
when  the  Congress  voted  the  Declaration  of  Independence  in  its 
specific  and  final  form.  It  was  also  that  day  ordered  authenti- 
cated, printed  and  proclaimed,  but  it  was  not  on  that  day,  July 
4th,  signed.  On  July  6th  in  The  Pennsylvania  Evening  Post,  it 
was  for  the  first  time  printed  in  a  newspaper;  and  the  second 
time  in  The  Pennsylvania  Gazette  of  July  loth.  On  July  8th, 
at  noon,  the  Declaration  was  read  to  the  people  of  Philadelphia 
in  Independence  Square,  outside  of  Independence  Hall,  by  Col- 
onel John  Nixon,  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  It  was  at  this 
time,  not  on  July  4th,  that  the  Liberty  Bell  was  rung.  On 
July  iQth,  the  Congress  ordered  the  Declaration  engrossed  and 
signed,  and  on  August  2nd,  1776,  the  engrossed  Declaration  was 
compared  on  the  table  before  the  Congress  and  signed  by  the 
members  present.  Two  members  signed  still  later. 

These  events  have  in  this  episode  all  been  represented  as 
occurring  at  one  session,  in  the  afternoon  of  Thursday,  July  4th, 
1776.  The  great  speeches  delivered  by  John  Dickinson  and 
John  Adams  on  July  2nd  are  not  extant.  A  general  idea  how- 
ever of  the  substance  of  each  speech  may  probably  be  gained 


33 

from  John  Dickinson's  Vindication,  written  in  1783,  and  from 
John  Adams'  letter  to  his  wife  written  the  following  day,  July 
3rd,  1776.  So  far  as  practicable,  the  sources  of  the  longer  parts 
of  the  dialogue  in  the  episode  are  indicated  in  foot-notes.  But 
the  writer  desires  clearly  and  specifically  to  state  that  he  does 
not  offer  this  episode  as  correct  history,  in  whole  or  in  part,  but 
as  a  pageant  episode,  the  purpose  of  which  is  simply  to  give  in  its 
proper  place  in  the  celebration  such  a  general  impression  of  the 
character  of  the  men  and  the  days  that  produced  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  as  will,  it  is  hoped,  be  found  suitable  for 
use  in  the  celebration  of  our  national  holiday. 

The  Performance.  A  legislative  session  does  not  lend  itself 
kindly  for  dramatic  material  in  the  usual  sense  of  that  phrase. 
It  may  be  that  the  episode  in  full  as  here  given  may  be  consid- 
ered by  some  too  long  in  itself  and  also  too  replete  with  long 
speeches.  If  so,  it  can  be  easily  shortened  to  suit  the  local  plans 
and  desires  by  the  omission  of  lesser  or  greater  portions  of  the 
text.  In  order  that  the  local  people  may  do  this  work  of  short- 
ening the  episode  intelligently  and  with  a  clear  impression  of  the 
real  unity,  of  the  thrilling  importance  and  of  the  quaint  circum- 
stance of  some  of  the  minor  incidents  of  the  Fourth  of  July, 
1776,  it  has  been  thought  better  to  give  an  ample  presentation 
of  the  proceedings  so  far  as  they  can  be  given  or  suggested. 

On  the  other  hand  it  may  be  that  some  communities  will 
deem  it  practicable  and  may  desire  to  attempt  a  fairly  complete 
representation  of  this  great  session  of  the  Congress.  If  so,  they 
should  give  particular  attention  to  the  elocution  of  the  speeches 
and  to  the  small  business  of  each  individual  member  of  the  Con- 
gress; otherwise  disaster  in  the  form  of  a  flat  uninteresting  per- 
formance will  descend  upon  the  celebration.  Especially  for  the 
parts  of  John  Hancock,  John  Dickinson,  John  Adams,  Benja- 
min Harrison,  Thomas  Jefferson,  and  Charles  Thomson  players 
should  be  chosen  who  have  fine  presence  and  strong  clear  voices, 
as  well  as,  if  possible,  a  general  resemblance  to  those  well-known 
men.  In  an  episode  of  this  forensic  character,  it  is  most 
important  that  every  word  they  say  may  easily  be  heard  by 
the  audience.  In  all  instances  the  delivery  of  the  oratorical 
passages  should  be  distinct,  simple  and  earnest.  So  also,  those 
who  play  the  parts  of  the  other  members  of  the  Congress  should 
realize  that  they  have  important,  unremitting  and  difficult  parts 
to  play.  Together  they  constitute  a  dramatic  accompaniment 
3 


34 

to  the  melody  of  the  main  action  carried  by  the  speaking  char- 
acters. They  must  be  responsive  to  each  argument  and  appeal, 
according  to  their  characters,  yet  at  no  time  so  conspicuously 
responsive  as  to  disturb  the  attention  properly  to  be  given  to  the 
center  of  interest  in  the  main  action.  Each  player  should,  so  far 
as  he  is  able,  study  his  man  to  gain  an  appreciation  of  his  char- 
acter, and  an  understanding  of  his  temper  of  mind  and  point  of 
view,  so  that  in  the  performance  he  may  live  through  the  thoughts 
and  ideas  of  his  part  as  the  vote  on  the  Declaration  was  ap- 
proached and  passed. 

When  the  Boy  Scouts  assigned  to  this  duty  bring  in  the  tables 
and  chairs,  the  table  at  which  the  President  of  the  Congress  sits 
should  be  placed  so  that  the  President  in  his  chair  will  face  di- 
rectly toward  the  audience  at  sufficient  distance  to  allow  the 
members  of  the  Congress  being  placed  before  him.  On  the 
President's  right  slightly  nearer  the  audience  and  also  facing  the 
audience,  should  be  placed  the  table  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Congress.  Both  tables  should  be  supplied  with  ink-stands  and 
quill  pens.  The  chairs  for  the  members  of  the  Congress  may 
then  be  placed  concentrically  in  a  half-circle  in  front  of  the 
President's  table,  leaving  an  aisle  leading  directly  down  from  the 
President's  table  toward  the  audience.  This  will  make  an  ar- 
rangement that  is  probable  as  regards  the  original  arrangement, 
that  will  make  a  good  picture,  and  that  will  obviate  many  of  the 
members  having  their  backs  to  the  audience  most  of  the  time. 
It  might  be  well  to  have  the  location  of  each  chair  and  table 
previously  fixed  and  indicated  by  an  inconspicuous  peg  driven 
into  the  ground,  so  that  the  Boy  Scouts  may  without  hesitation 
take  the  chairs  to  their  correct  places  and  withdraw  without  even 
necessity  for  aligning  them.  The  Delegations  from  the  Colo- 
nies should  sit  together,  as  the  vote  was  taken  by  Colonies,  the 
vote  of  the  Colony  being  decided  by  a  vote  of  the  individuals 
comprising  the  Delegation  among  themselves. 

Portraits  and  brief  biographies  of  most  of  the  above  members 
of  the  Congress  are  to  be  found  in  William  H.  Michael's  The 
Declaration  of  Independence  Illustrated:  Stories  about  its  Adop- 
tion, with  Biographies  and  Portraits  of  the  Signers  and  of  the 
Secretary  of  the  Congress.  Published  by  the  Government 
Printing  Office,  Washington,  1904.  Those  who  desire  to  approx- 
imate as  far  as  possible  the  chairs  and  table  used  in  the  Congress 
can  get  pictures  of  the  room,  the  tables,  the  chairs  and  the  silver 


35 

ink-stand  used  at  the  signing,  in  the  form  of  picture  post-cards 
(Independence  Series,  Nos.  3,  5  and  9),  from  the  Curator  of  the 
National  Museum,  Independence  Hall,  Chestnut  and  5th  Streets, 
Philadelphia.  The  price  for  the  complete  series  of  ten  cards 
including  other  pictures  of  the  building  is  25  cents. 


Pageantry  in  Fourth  of  July  Celebrations 

The  significance  of  this  holiday  lies,  not  in  the  quiet,  deter- 
mined protest  of  certain  representative  colonial  gentlemen  against 
the  political  and  commercial  exactions  of  an  unreasonable  mother 
country,  but  in  the  fact  that  this  protest  was  an  utterance  of  the 
fundamental  principle  of  liberty,  and  was  the  foreword  of  the 
founding  and  the  development  of  a  new  nation  upon  the  doctrine 
that  freedom  is  the  breath  of  life,  that  freedom  as  nothing  else 
gives  vigor,  brings  self-control  and  responsibility  of  character, 
and  entails  upon  both  the  individual  and  the  community  life 
the  highest  endowment  of  intelligence,  culture  and  character. 

The  celebrations  of  the  past  have  for  the  most  part  been 
lamentably  inadequate  to  this  theme.  But  as  now  we  Americans 
return  to  a  proper  regard  for  our  chief  national  holiday,  and  seek 
to  evolve  a  suitable  celebration  for  the  occasion,  the  significance 
of  the  holiday  demands  that  each  community  devise  a  celebration 
which  shall  sincerely  and  truthfully  express  what  the  great  joyous 
patriotic  idea  of  Liberty  has  meant  and  does  mean  and  may  mean 
to  each  city  or  town  or  village.  It  is  not  a  task  that  can  be  done 
by  one  man,  nor  by  any  one  group  of  men;  neither  can  it  be 
done  in  one  year.  The  whole  American  people  must  put  their 
thought  and  heart  into  the  work,  year  after  year.  Then  finally 
there  will  surely  grow  from  all  the  thinking  and  writing  and 
inspiration  of  the  people  a  great  Folk-Celebration  which  will  be 
truly  an  adequate  expression  of  the  loyalty  of  the  American 
people  to  the  principle  of  freedom  that  is  inherent  in  the  Fourth 
of  July. 

In  the  celebrations  of  the  last  few  years  there  appears  a 
trend  in  the  direction  of  a  kind  of  celebration  which  bids  fair  to 
prove  satisfactory  and  inspiring.*  Three  simple  characteristics 

'Attention  may  be  called  to  two  publications  of  this  kind  that  are  avail- 
able: (i)  A  Pageant  for  Independence  Day,  by  Thomas  Wood  Stevens  and 
Kenneth  S.  Goodman,  published  by  The  Stage  Guild,  1527  Railway  Exchange 
Building,  Chicago.  Price,  35  cents;  and  Patriotic  Plays  and  Pageants  for 
Young  People,  by  Constance  D'Arcy  Mackay,  published  by  Henry  Holt  and 
Company,  New  York.  Price,  $1.35. 

36 


37 

are  found  in  most  of  them,  which  instantly  commend  themselves 
as  essential  to  the  adequate  celebration :  (i)  The  historic  element 
must  be  strongly  present,  holding  in  mind  clearly  the  life  of  the 
nation  as  a  whole  from  the  beginning.  (2)  The  idea  of  Liberty 
must  be  expressed  in  human  terms.  It  must  be  dramatic.  (3) 
The  celebrating  present  is  quite  as  important  an  element  as  the 
celebrated  past.  The  celebration  must  not  be  only  historic.  It 
must  apply  the  inspiration  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  to 
the  present  life  of  the  locality. 

These  characteristics  indicate  that  the  celebration  of  which 
we  are  in  search  is  akin  to  the  Pageant,  that  new  kind  of  drama 
which  presents  the  history  of  a  community  focused  upon  the 
present  character  and  the  present  problems  of  that  community. 
There  will  clearly  be  much  in  the  desired  celebration  that  is 
similar  to  the  proper  type  of  the  Pageant.  But  also  there  are 
essential  differences  to  be  noted.  Chief  of  these  is  the  fact  that 
the  spirit  of  the  occasion  of  such  a  celebration  is  essentially 
lyrical,  rather  than  dramatic.  In  so  far  as  the  dramatic  is 
present  it  is  present  as  a  tool  of  the  lyric.  The  dominant  char- 
acter of  the  day  and  therefore  of  the  celebration  is  emotional. 
Its  purpose  is  to  uplift  the  sentiment  of  the  whole  community, 
uniting  men,  women  and  children  in  honoring  the  principle 
"which  has  made  and  preserved  us  a  nation."  The  celebration 
must  be  first  and  last  a  song  of  praise.  This  consideration  does 
not  preclude  the  dramatic  treatment,  but  it  does  reserve  the 
dominant  note,  the  first  place  for  the  lyric  quality. 

Accordingly  two  suggestions  for  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth 
of  July  are  offered  in  this  pamphlet.  The  first  is  not  a  pageant; 
it  aspires  to  be  what  it  is  called  a  Celebration,  with  the  idea  that 
this  word  might  be  used  as  the  name  for  a  distinct  form  which 
combines  something  of  the  dramatic  in  substance  and  structure 
with  a  pervading  lyric  quality  and  intention.  The  other  is  an 
Outline  for  a  General  Pageant.  It  may  be  that  both  will  have 
to  be  adapted  to  local  conditions  for  actual  use.  To  facilitate 
this  the  suggestions, — with  respect  to  the  grounds,  for  instance,— 
have  been  made  quite  specific.  Something  should  be  said  of 
each  outline. 

The  Celebration.  The  essential  ideas  that  should  be  in- 
cluded in  a  Fourth  of  July  Celebration  are  common  to  the  whole 
country.  They  are : 


51307 


38 

1 .  The  official  character  of  the  day ; 

2.  Reminiscence  of  the  occasion  which  is  celebrated; 

3.  The  national  character  of  the  idea  of  Liberty  and  of 

the  celebration; 

4.  An  offering  of  joyous  tributes  in  honor  of  the  day; 

5.  The  allegiance  and  loyalty  to  the  nation  as  the  embodi- 

ment of  Freedom,  which  is  the  be-all  and  the  end- 
all  of  the  whole  celebration. 

It  will  be  found  that  the  Celebration  consists  of  little  more 
than  these  five  elements.  In  the  fourth,  The  Tribute  of  the 
People,  a  place  in  the  Celebration  is  provided  for  the  recognition 
of  the  beautiful  old-country  customs  of  our  newer  citizens,  and 
for  the  festive  exercises  of  our  young  people  and  children;  and 
also  for  the  performance  of  original  music  in  honor  of  the  occasion, 
as  is  suggested  by  Mr.  Farwell.  No  greater  use  could  be  made 
of  this  Celebration  than  the  development  of  the  sincere  render- 
ing and  the  original  composition  of  good  American  music,  both 
instrumental  and  vocal. 

The  Celebration  plan  is  the  better  suggestion  of  the  two,  in 
the  writer's  opinion,  for  the  reason  that  it  better  fulfills  the 
essential  function  of  the  day,  by  going  straight  back  to  the  stately 
colonial  hall  of  1776  and  contemplating  the  spirit  of  the  founders 
of  American  Liberty. 

The  General  Pageant.  A  pageant,  nevertheless,  is  a  natural 
and  an  appropriate  way  to  celebrate  the  Fourth  of  July.  It 
must  be  remembered,  however,  that  as  a  pageant  is  essentially 
local  in  character,  a  general  pageant, — i.  e.,  a  pageant  that  is 
applicable  to  all  communities, — is  the  least  forceful  kind  of  page- 
ant. The  local  source  of  the  episodes  and  the  local  application 
of  their  message  give  the  true  pageant  a  robust  vigor  and  a 
convincing  artistic  and  popular  quality  that  make  it  far  surpass 
anything  that  is  generally  available  or  adaptable. 

However  a  general  pageant  may  be  good.  An  outline  for 
such  a  pageant  is  therefore  herein  offered.  But  to  get  what 
value  there  is  in  it,  it  must  be  locally  appropriate  and  adapted 
not  only  to  the  local  conditions  of  performance,  but  to  the  local 
life;  it  must  be  essentially  as  local  as  possible,  for  the  more  so 
it  is  made,  the  more  artistic  it  will  be  dramatically,  the  more 
inspiring  civically; — in  a  word,  the  better  pageant  it  will  become. 
This  outline  is  given  therefore  purely  as  a  suggestion  and  as  an 
outline,  with  the  idea  that  if  used  it  will  be  locally  written.  The 


39 

local  requirements  of  the  grounds  alone  will  necessitate  a  fitting 
of  the  outline  to  the  grounds,  a  writing  of  the  pageant  into  the 
location  of  the  performance.*  In  the  Civil  War  episode  a  writing 
of  dialogue  and  incident  reminiscent  of  the  men  who  actually 
went  to  the  war  from  the  town,  for  the  conversation  between  the 
lines,  will  double  or  triple  the  vitality  of  the  episode.  Especially 
does  this  consideration  apply  to  the  episode  of  the  present,  which 
will  be  quite  empty  and  profitless  unless  it  be  distinctly  local. 
A  general  episode  could  not  stand  the  stress  of  the  accumulating 
dramatic  demand  for  climax  and  would  fall  flat.  Indeed,  it 
would  be  little  more  than  dramatizing  other  people's  troubles 
instead  of  one's  own,  and  other  people's  struggle  for  freedom  from 
the  slavery  of  conditions.  Or  if  local  conditions  were  dramatized 
in  this  episode  in  a  way  that  would  be  applicable  to  any  place,  it 
would  be  doing  it  not  vividly  and  with  specific  detail,  but 
vaguely.  The  more  of  mild  application  there  might  be  to  any 
and  all  communities,  the  less  there  would  be  to  the  local  com- 
munity. 

Attention  should  be  called  to  one  kind  of  treatment  which 
almost  constitutes  an  exception  to  what  has  just  been  said.  The 
practical  value  of  symbolism  in  pageant  writing  is  to  depict 
general  conditions.  Therefore  scenes  of  symbolism  are  more 
generally  applicaWe_and_praclicable  than  realisticjjpisTfdes. '"  This 
will  readily  be  appreciated  in  rea3ifig'th"e  Outline.  Even  so,  the 
symbolic  scenes  themselves  gain  greatly  in  vital  power  if  they  are 
generalizations  of  familiar  local  conditions.  Accordingly  they 
do  not  constitute  an  unqualified  exception. 

But  for  the  city  or  town  that  wants  to  celebrate  the  Fourth 
of  July  with  a  pageant  the  best  way  is  to  produce  an  original 
really  local  pageant,  if  only  a  dramatist  can  be  found  to  write  and 
direct  the  pageant  who  will  do  a  sincere  artistic  piece  of  work  and 
be  willing  to  suffer  the  penalty  of  failure  for  all  the  dramatic  sins 
he  may  commit  through  the  ignorance  of  pageant  writing  with 
which  we  are  all  amply  endowed.  Such  a  local  pageant  written 
for  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July  should,  of  course,  em- 
phasize throughout  the  character  of  the  town  as  an  American 
community,  as  a  child  of  the  United  States,  growing  up  through 
its  vicissitudes  into  an  increasing  measure  of  freedom  and  par- 

*Additional  suggestions,  in  more  detail,  if  desired,  may  be  found  in  the 
chapter  "How  to  Start  a  Pageant"  in  the  writer's  book,  The  Pageant  in 
America,  published  by  Frederick  W.  Wilson,  37  East  28th  Street,  New  York 
City. 


40 

ticipating  in  the  struggle  for  a  national  achievement  of  Liberty. 
It  will  be  felt  that  this  pamphlet  has  accomplished  its  highest 
purpose  if  by  its  suggestions  it  leads  to  an  original  production  of 
a  local  pageant  for  the  Fourth  of  July. 

Even  a  general  pageant,  however,  must  have  its  present  epi- 
sode distinctly  local  in  character.  The  focus  of  the  past  on  the 
present  must  be  sharp  and  specific.  This  is  frankly  recognized 
in  the  Outline  and  opportunity  and  place  is  thus  provided  for 
the  contribution  of  original  work  by  a  local  artist.  This  coincides 
with  the  suggestion  made  by  Mr.  Farwell  for  original  local  work 
in  music  and  drama.  It  is  itself  quite  suggestive  that  Mr.  Far- 
well  and  the  writer  have  arrived  at  the  same  point  from  different 
directions, — he  from  the  desire  to  stimulate  the  best  growth  of 
American  art  in  music  and  in  drama;  the  writer  from  the  dra- 
matic necessity  of  getting  the  utmost  vitality  and  dramatic  value 
out  of  the  episode  of  the  present. 

The  purpose  of  this  pamphlet  does  not  make  it  appropriate 
to  enter  to  any  length  into  the  question  of  the  proper  methods  of 
organizing  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July,  except  so  far 
as  the  considerations  of  art  may  render  it  fitting.  For  the  best 
development  of  the  artistic  ability  of  a  town,  however,  it  is 
advisable,  almost  necessary,  that  the  Fourth  of  July  Committee 
should  hold  over  from  one  year  to  the  next.  If  there  is  to  be  a 
change  in  the  personnel  of  the  Committee,  the  new  Committee 
should  be  appointed  immediately  after  the  work  of  the  outgoing 
Committee  is  finished,  so  that  the  new  Committee  may  have  a 
full  year  to  perfect  its  plans  and  to  encourage  the  local  dramatic 
and  musical  ability  of  the  town  to  do  its  best  in  the  preparation 
of  the  next  celebration.  If  the  next  celebration  is  to  be  an  im- 
provement on  the  last,  or  is  to  be  a  distinct  departure,  those  who 
have  it  in  charge  should  have  ample  time  to  work  out  their  ideas 
after  their  appointment  for  the  work,  so  that  they  may  be  striving 
for  a  definite  and  assured  opportunity  to  produce  the  finest 
results  of  their  art. 

The  best  suggestion  that  has  been  made  along  this  line,  so 
far  as  the  writer  has  learned,  is  the  suggestion  made  by  Mr.  Lee 
F.  Hanmer  at  the  Brookline,  Massachusetts,  Institute  of  the 
Playground  Association,  February,  1912,  in  which  he  recom- 
mended a  standing  committee  to  have  charge  of  the  successive 
holidays  of  the  year,  with  sub-committees  to  direct  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  celebration  of  each  occasion.  He  said: — 


"The  question  at  once  arises — Who  is  to  be  responsible 
for  the  right  celebration  of  these  occasions,  and  how  can  we 
avoid  their  neglect  and  abuse?  It  is  not  now  the  custom 
of  municipalities  to  assume  responsibility  for  such  cele- 
brations,— it  is  usually  left  to  public  spirited  citizens  to  form 
committees,  raise  funds,  develop  plans  and  conduct  the 
celebrations.  Might  it  not  be  well  in  cities  where  there  are 
civic  leagues  or  recreation  alliances  to  have  a  committee  of 
such  organizations  to  be  known  as  The  Holiday  Celebration 
Committee,  this  Committee  to  have  three  sub-committees, 
a  committee  on  religious  holidays,  a  committee  on  educa- 
tional, and  a  committee  on  civic  holidays,  these  sub-com- 
mittees to  be  charged  with  responsibility  for  the  proper 
celebration  of  the  holidays  within  their  jurisdiction?  The 
Civic  Holiday  Committee  would  be  expected  to  formulate 
plans  and  present  them  to  the  city  authorities  for  adoption. 
A  large  committee  of  citizens  might  then  be  appointed  by 
the  Mayor  for  the  special  holiday,  Fourth  of  July  for  in- 
stance, and  such  appropriations  as  were  possible  could  be 
made  and  such  additional  funds  raised  as  might  be  necessary. 
With  standing  committees  there  would  be  assurance  that 
the  occasion  would  be  definitely  planned  for  in  advance  and 
the  celebration  would  not  be  left  to  such  haphazard  plans 
as  might  be  suggested  at  the  last  moment." 

This  address  may  be  found  printed  in  full  in  The  Journal  of 
Education  for  April,  1912.  By  such  a  Committee  is  provided  the 
means  for  the  nurture  of  a  truly  national  art,  of  which  Mr.  Far- 
well  speaks. 

A  national  art  is  the  crystallization  of  the  vital  emotion  of  a 
people.  A  national  art  has  practical  civic  value  of  the  highest 
character,  for  it  is  the  food  of  patriotism  and  public  spirit.  In 
America  national  art  lacks  the  necessary  focus,  a  focus  at  once  of 
subject,  of  opportunity  and  of  public  demand.  The  Fourth  of 
July,  properly  regarded,  and  exalted  by  an  appropriate  and  signi- 
ficant celebration,  would  become  such  a  clear  focus  and  such  a 
vitalizing  center  for  American  patriotism  and  for  the  expression 
of  that  patriotism  in  music  and  drama  as  is  needed,  and  would 
thus  contribute  powerfully  to  the  upbuilding  of  a  virile  American 
life. 


Music  for  the  Fourth  of  July 

BY  ARTHUR  FARWELL 

Supervisor  of  Municipal  Concerts,  New  York  City,  1910-12 

Music,  music — and  again  music! 

This,  after  the  Idea  of  Liberty  itself,  is  the  one  idea  which 
recurs  more  persistently  than  any  other  as  we  read  over  the 
speeches,  the  articles,  the  suggestions  and  plans,  of  those  who  are 
leading  the  movement  for  a  New  Fourth.  This  fact  has  come 
strongly  to  the  front  in  a  reading  of  the  pamphlets  on  Independ- 
ence Day  celebrations  issued  by  the  Russell  Sage  Foundation. 
Music  appears  in  all  these  writings  suffusing,  linking,  permeating 
all  the  other  ideas,  as  the  glory  of  sunset  suffuses  and  envelops 
all  the  stretch  of  a  spreading  landscape. 

In  the  past,  ever  since  the  birth  of  the  nation,  the  Fourth  of 
July  has  meant  two  things, 

THE  IDEA  OF  LIBERTY— AND  NOISE 

Does  not  every  present  sign  indicate  that  the  Fourth  of  July 
in  the  future  shall  still  mean  these  two  things,  but  now  become 
THE  IDEA  OF  LIBERTY— AND  MUSIC 

This  idea  would  seem  to  embody  the  essence  of  the  entire 
transmutation  of  the  Fourth — The  Idea  of  Liberty  comprising 
all  of  the  many  dramatic  or  objective  means  by  which  it  is  pro- 
posed to  celebrate  that  idea,  and  Music,  immensely  expanded  in 
its  significance  and  use,  now  to  be  the  outlet  for  a  national  en- 
thusiasm hitherto,  but  no  longer,  content  to  expend  itself  in 
noise.  The  sound  of  the  barbaric  and  doomed  cannon-cracker  is 
to  be  reborn  in  the  mighty  vibrations  of  a  new  and  powerful 
music. 

Thus  far  the  musical  suggestions  which  have  been  made, 
while  good  in  intent  and  nature,  have  been  somewhat  desultory 
and  diffuse.  They  have  suggested  a  feeling  of  casting  about  in 
despair  for  things  to  do  and  ways  to  do  them,  and  have  too  often 
contented  themselves  with  merely  suggesting  "Patriotic  Music," 
or  "Singing  of  National  Songs."  What  is  thus  far  lacking  is  a 
synthesis  of  the  musical  ideas  pertaining  to  the  Fourth,  and,  of 

42 


43 

deeper  import,  the  opening  of  a  pathway  forward  and  upward  for 
these  musical  ideas.  First,  they  must  be  shaped;  and  second, 
they  must  be  shaped  in  such  a  way  as  to  draw  forth  the  best 
and  strongest  musical  resource  and  talent  of  each  community. 

At  the  outset  we  must  disabuse  our  minds  of  the  idea  that 
such  feeble  Fourth  of  July  music  as  we  have  had  in  the  past  bears 
any  likeness  to  that  which  we  are  to  have  in  the  future.  The 
singing  of  national  songs  by  children  and  grown  people  is  cer- 
tainly to  be  retained,  and  developed  to  a  far  better  condition. 
Aside  from  such  singing,  for  the  most  part  all  too  crude  in  the 
past,  the  music  of  the  Fourth  has  consisted  chiefly  in  the  music 
of  the  military  band. 

The  American  has  a  warm  spot  in  his  heart  for  the  brass  band, 
and  with  reason.  He  loved  it  as  a  boy;  it  has  led  him  to  many  a 
victory,  martial  and  political ;  it  has  glorified  many  an  American 
holiday;  and  it  has  been  his  most  democratic  and  far-reaching 
means  of  presenting  music  to  the  public.  Nevertheless,  we  must 
now  realize  clearly,  because  of  the  broader  musical  standpoint 
to  which  our  new  need  for  the  Fourth  of  July  has  driven  us,  that 
the  band  and  its  music  is  in  a  worse  state  of  degeneration  than 
almost  any  other  form  of  music  in  America. 

The  American  band  is  ruinously  undersized,  and  does  not 
present  the  true  full  band  instrumentation;  its  complement  of 
instruments  is  not  that  which  affords  the  best  sonority;  its 
available  published  literature  (excepting  popular  songs)  is  hope- 
lessly behind  the  musical  progress  of  the  day;  it  affords  little 
opportunity  for  the  kind  of  progress  that  must  be  made  in  the 
future;  and,  in  the  larger  cities,  it  is  commercialized  to  the  point 
where  it  has  lost  the  power  to  voice  spontaneously  the  ever 
glorious  spirit  of  the  Fourth. 

The  military  band  in  America  today,  except  in  the  rare  in- 
stances of  good  amateur  bands,  is  almost  a  thing  apart  from  the 
true  musical  resource,  talent,  and  spirit  of  American  communi- 
ties, and  it  is  precisely  that  total  resource,  talent,  and  spirit  that 
must  go  to  the  making  of  the  music  of  the  New  Fourth. 

The  band,  nevertheless,  has  two  remaining  virtues  of  first 
importance:  its  use  for  marching,  and  its  ability  to  play  the 
national  airs,  although  in  the  latter  respect  the  orchestra  is  su- 
perior, especially  where  the  instrumental  music  is  to  be  used  in 
connection  with  singing.  The  band,  even  as  it  stands,  can  serve 
admirably  in  these  respects,  but  we  must  recognize  that  the 


44 

music  of  the  Fourth,  in  view  of  the  present  trend  of  the  celebra- 
tion of  that  day,  is  not  to  be  restricted  to  those  two  aspects,  and 
can  not  be  so  restricted  if  a  pathway  is  to  be  opened  forward  and 
upward  for  the  musical  resource  of  a  community  as  a  fundamental 
factor  in  our  greatest  national  celebration. 

What  then,  in  any  American  city,  is  the  total  musical  resource 
that  should  go  to  the  glorifying  of  the  Fourth  of  July?  Broadly 
it  comprises  the  following  elements,  which  may  be  drawn  upon 
in  whole  or  in  part,  according  to  local  possibilities: 

Choruses  of  school  children 

Singing  societies  and  choral  organizations,  male  and    female 

Church  choirs 

Bands 

Orchestras,  amateur  or  professional 

Vocal  and  instrumental  soloists,  amateur  and  professional 

The  Audience 

Composers 

Here,  at  hand,  is  a  musical  legion  which  can  be  mustered  in 
whole  by  any  American  city  or  large  town,  and  in  part  by  almost 
any  smaller  town,  and  directed  to  great  ends  unlimited  in  their 
possibility  of  growth  and  expansion.  The  United  States  of 
America,  on  the  Fourth  of  July  should  ring  from  end  to  end  with 
all  the  mighty  musical  sound  that  these  innumerable  musical 
hosts  can  outpour. 

The  Band.  It  is  recognized  that  there  are  many  towns  which 
may  have  nothing  more  than  a  brass  band.  The  larger  possi- 
bilities of  other  places  should  not  discourage  such  localities.  In 
such  towns  the  bands  are  apt  to  be  amateur  organizations  where 
the  members  play  for  the  love  of  it,  and  for  this  reason  they  will 
play  with  more  spirit  than  the  city  professional  bands.  These 
towns  should  get  the  greatest  efficiency  out  of  such  organizations 
as  they  have.  It  is  not  enough  to  let  such  bands  at  a  Fourth  of 
July  celebration  play  merely  what  they  happen  to  know.  The 
nature  of  the  celebration  should  be  planned  well  in  advance,  and 
the  bands  should  secure  and  rehearse  the  particular  music  that 
is  planned  for  the  event.  It  should  prepare  special  and  appro- 
priate music  for  pageant  effects,  processionals,  entrances,  and 
interludes;  and  it  should  rehearse  with  school  children  or  other 
choral  groups  the  songs  and  chorus  that  are  to  be  sung.  The 
same  procedure  applies  to  still  smaller  communities  which  may 


45 

not  be  able  to  provide  anything  more  than  a  piano  and  a  cornet 
or  violin. 

The  Orchestra.  In  all  the  cities  and  towns  which  are  showing 
the  most  active  progress  in  popular  celebrations,  pageantry,  and 
the  development  of  music  for  the  people  on  a  large  scale,  the  or- 
chestra is  supplanting  the  band  as  the  basis  and  standard  of  in- 
strumental music,  and  for  the  accompaniment  of  voices.  All  the 
great  concerted  music  of  the  world  is  composed  for  the  orchestra. 
The  orchestra  is  infinitely  richer  in  tone  color  and  variety  than 
the  band.  The  band  gives  only  "arrangements";  its  instru- 
ments cannot  give  the  effects  intended  by  the  composer,  but 
only  a  representation  of  them  in  other  terms,  somewhat  as  a 
photograph  represents  a  painting  in  colors.  The  band  is  pri- 
marily for  military  use,  in  marching,  and  for  all  concert  purposes 
is  only  a  makeshift.  As  long  as  the  organized  Fourth  of  July 
celebration  consisted  in  the  procession  alone,  and  where  the  pro- 
cession is  still  used,  the  band  was  and  is  in  its  right  place.  The 
orchestra  is  the  universally  established  standard  of  the  music  of 
the  concert.  The  central  event  of  the  Fourth  of  July  celebra- 
tion, as  it  is  now  shaping  itself,  i.  e.  as  a  ceremony  given  in  a 
particular  place,  and  as  exemplified  in  Mr.  Langdon's  suggested 
plan,  departs  definitely  from  the  procession  idea  and,  in  its 
musical  aspect,  approaches  the  status  of  the  concert.  And  here 
the  orchestra  is  immeasurably  superior  to  the  band.  Its  pub- 
lished literature  is  immensely  broader  and  is  up-to-date.  It  is 
much  better  adapted  for  accompanying  voices  than  the  band, 
and  especially  for  accompanying  part  singing  by  chorus,  for 
which  the  band  is  practically  unavailable.  Choral  accompani- 
ments are  written  for  orchestra  and  not  for  band.  Even  for 
the  performance  of  the  national  airs,  "Star  Spangled  Banner," 
"America,"  "Hail,  Columbia,"  "Dixie,"  "The  Red,  White 
and  Blue,"  etc.,  the  orchestra,  for  stationary  use  (i.  e.  when  there 
is  no  marching,  and  especially  with  singing),  surpasses  the  band. 
The  instruments  which  in  the  brass  band  blare  out  the  melody, 
chiefly  cornets  and  clarinets,  exist  also  in  the  orchestra,  where 
they  serve  the  same  purpose,  while  the  greater  variety  of  the 
other  instruments  in  the  orchestra,  especially  the  body  of  stringed 
instruments,  greatly  enriches  the  general  effect.  The  orchestra, 
whenever  it  has  been  adopted,  has  proved  itself  thoroughly 
satisfactory  for  use  out-of-doors,  requiring  only  a  simply  con- 
structed sound  screen  or  "shell"  of  wood  to  give  its  best  effect. 


46 

The  work  of  amateur  orchestras  in  rehearsing  for  Indepen- 
dence Day  celebrations  will  give  these  organizations  new  purpose 
and  stability,  and  lead  to  much  desired  permanent  orchestral 
organizations  for  this  and  similar  celebrations  in  a  community. 
Beyond  this,  it  will  fundamentally  develop  local  talent  and 
musical  appreciation,  and  be  one  of  the  greatest  possible  forces 
for  the  permanent  musical  betterment  and  advancement  of 
any  community. 

The  Audience.  Whenever  possible,  the  audience  should  be 
included  as  a  music-producing  factor,  and  in  fact  it  would  be 
well  to  so  plan  a  celebration  as  to  provide  definitely  for  the  par- 
ticipation of  the  people  in  some  of  the  singing.  The  people  can 
be  expected  to  join  in  the  singing  of  the  patriotic  songs  and  the 
favorites  of  Stephen  Foster,  "The  Swanee  River,"  "Old  Ken- 
tucky Home,"  etc.,  at  least  where  such  songs  are  not  a  part  of 
some  dramatic  action  which  would  be  disturbed  by  such  par- 
ticipation. 

The  people  are  far  too  little  familiar  with  the  words  of  even 
our  principal  patriotic  songs,  as  any  attempt  to  get  an  average 
crowd  to  sing  them  will  quickly  show.  By  printing  and  dis- 
tributing the  words  of  such  songs  as  the  audience  is  requested  to 
join  in,  two  important  ends  will  be  gained:  the  public  will  be- 
come familiar  with  the  words  of  the  songs,  and  a  great  uplift  will 
be  given  to  the  music  of  the  ceremony.  With  the  support  of 
band  or  orchestra,  and  whatever  trained  chorus  may  be  present, 
and  with  the  words  in  hand,  excellent  results  can  be  expected 
from  the  singing  of  these  songs  by  the  people,  though  such  results 
cannot  be  expected  without  such  preparation. 

As  it  is  very  undesirable  to  announce  the  participation  of  the 
people  in  the  singing  and  to  have  it  prove  a  failure,  it  is  absolutely 
necessary,  if  this  feature  is  to  be  a  success,  to  give  the  people 
every  possible  aid  and  support. 

The  Composer.  All  musical  art  originates  with  the  composer. 
The  music  of  a  nation  can  come  from  only  one  source — its  com- 
posers. America  has  a  goodly  company  of  famous  composers, 
some  hundred  and  fifty  of  high  standing,  and  innumerable  com- 
posers of  ability  throughout  the  cities  and  towns  of  the  land. 

What  are  they  doing?  They  are  busying  themselves  for  the 
most  part,  or  entertaining  themselves,  with  making  pleasant 
and  clever  imitations  of  a  latter-day  and  over-refined  European 
musical  art.  They  are  in  many  cases  wasting  their  high  gifts 


47 

and  hard-earned  technic,  in  making  music  which  can  never  have 
any  broad  meaning  for  the  people  of  their  own  land. 

Why  are  they  doing  this?  Because  their  own  country  has 
never  yet  asked  anything  of  them.  Their  mind  has  never  yet  been 
drawn  away  from  the  old  world  traditions  that  gave  us  our  music 
and  musical  system  in  the  first  place.  The  academies  give  them 
nothing  but  European  models  to  work  by.  They  are  sent  to 
Europe  to  study.  They  are  not  kept  to  the  study  of  the  song  of 
the  people — folksong — the  basis  of  all  musical  art.  Their  atten- 
tion is  directed  wholly  to  the  study  of  the  highly  developed  and 
highly  refined  musical  forms — the  symphony  and  sonata.  They 
are  taught  that  the  popular  taste  is  vulgar  and  should  not  be 
appealed  to.  They  are  trained  to  be  aristocrats  of  art  when 
America  needs  Democrats  of  art.  They  are  told  to  "stand  for 
the  ideal,"  when  they  are  to  face  a  nation  for  which  the  particu- 
lar ideal  meant  is  dingy  and  outworn.  The  young  composer  in 
America  today,  in  his  ignorance  and  confidence,  is  lured  into  a 
tragedy  of  evolution.  He  is  trained  to  make  a  product  which 
will  not  be  wanted. 

Thus  far,  it  must  be  said,  America  has  done  nothing  to  call 
the  composer  from  this  old-world  dream — to  make  him  useful  to 
his  country.  For  America  herself,  musically,  is  just  waking 
up :  she  is  still  rubbing  her  eyes.  The  composer,  on  whose  educa- 
tion primarily  as  a  composer  much  money  has  been  spent,  finds 
himself  in  a  perplexing  situation;  he  discovers  that  his  country 
will  accept  and  pay  readily  enough  for  his  services  as  teacher, 
performer,  etc.,  but  that  it  apparently  has  no  use  for  him  as  a 
composer,  the  very  thing  he  has  been  educated  to  be.  What  he 
has  to  give,  his  country  does  not  want;  and  it  does  not  tell  him 
what  it  does  want.  It  asks  no  concrete  thing  of  him — it  has  not 
known,  perhaps,  what  to  ask. 

In  fact  there  has  been  no  connection  at  all,  in  a  serious  way, 
between  the  American  composer  and  his  country.  Hundreds 
of  forces  are  at  work  drawing  the  composer  in  America  away  from 
his  people,  and  there  is  not  one  force  drawing  him  to  his  people. 
In  songs  for  the  people  above  all,  there  must  be  an  expectant 
audience  waiting  before  the  singer  can  sing.  The  poet  is  not  in- 
spired to  sing  to  a  vacuum!  It  is  little  wonder  that  we  have  a 
dearth  of  national  songs  of  our  own.  "America,"  "The  Star- 
Spangled  Banner,"  and  "Yankee  Doodle,"  are  all  foreign  airs. 

It  is  time  for  this  condition  to  change,  and  the  present  move- 


48 

ment  for  music  for  the  Fourth  of  July  is  the  pivot  upon  which  it 
should  turn.  William  Orr,  in  the  "Atlantic  Monthly"  for  June, 
1909,  wrote  in  his  article,  "An  American  Holiday": 

"Meantime  our  poets  and  composers  may  well  concern  them- 
selves with  increasing  the  number  of  our  national  songs  compar- 
able in  quality  with  those  of  the  old  world  peoples." 

This  suggestion  is  aimed  in  precisely  the  right  direction,  but 
from  a  twelve-years'  specific  study  of  the  composer  and  his 
problem  in  America,  and  a  wide  and  long  personal  acquaintance 
with  our  composers  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific,  I  can  say 
assuredly  that  American  composers  will  not,  in  fact,  can  not  do 
this  of  their  own  initiative;  that  they  can  not  do  it  through  mere 
suggestion  or  "encouragement";  that  they  can  not  do  it  until  they 
MUST  do  it— that  is,  until  it  is  REQUIRED  of  them  by  the 
American  people;  and  that  when  it  is  so  required  of  them  they  will 
rise  to  the  occasion  and  surprise  the  nation  by  their  achievements. 

Music,  and  all  art,  as  Richard  Wagner  pointed  out,  must 
spring  from  a  Need.  The  nation  now  at  last,  in  re-making  the 
celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  July,  feels  the  full  force  of  the  need 
of  national  songs  and  other  music  of  its  own.  This  need  must 
now  be  sharply  transferred  to  the  composer.  The  composer  in 
America  is  asleep,  dreaming  of  the  musical  art  of  the  old-world 
nations.  We  must  shake  him  and  call  out — Wake  up!  We 
want  songs — songs  of  America's  Glory  and  Freedom,  and  we  must 
have  them  for  next  Fourth  of  July/ 

When  the  composer  is  thus  called  upon  by  his  own  town  or 
city,  with  a  definite  object  and  event  in  view,  and  finds  that  he 
must  do  this  thing,  he  not  only  can  and  will,  but  he  will  throw 
himself  into  it  with  his  whole  soul.  He  would  be  ashamed  to 
fail.  The  all-creative  Need  will  have  come  upon  him.  My 
own  "Hymn  to  Liberty,"  which  was  sung  at  City  Hall,  New 
York,  on  last  Fourth  of  July,  would  never  have  been  written  if  I 
had  not  been  called  in  by  the  City  Departments  which  have  the 
giving  of  public  concerts,  and  brought  into  contact  with  the 
preparations  for  the  Fourth  of  July  and  the  people's  need  of 
songs.  The  little  that  one  man  can  do  alone,  in  an  isolated  cir- 
cumstance, is  as  nothing  to  that  which  will  be  accomplished  when 
the  people  set  the  composers  of  the  nation  to  work. 

The  composers  in  every  city  in  America  should  be  definitely 
required  to  contribute  to  their  city's  Fourth  of  July  celebration, 


49 

in  the  form  of  songs,  hymns,  choruses,  marches,  pageantry  music, 
in  any  and  all  ways  contributing  to  the  nature  and  spirit  of  the 
event.  Their  creative  powers  will  prove  astonishing,  in  virility 
and  imaginative  quality,  once  they  are  given  a  definite  task  to 
perform,  and  their  best  expected  of  them.  In  this  way  an  entire 
new  order  of  American  music  will  arise,  larger  in  spirit  than  any 
that  has  yet  arisen,  and  the  country  will  no  longer  lack  the 
national  songs  and  hymns  that  it  now  so  greatly  needs. 

This  music  should  be  obtained  in  one  of  two  ways :  either  by 
the  annual  appointment,  by  the  committee,  of  a  composer  (local, 
if  possible)  known  to  be  capable  of  undertaking  the  task  assigned 
him;  or  by  instituting  a  competition,  open,  when  practicable, 
only  to  local  composers.  The  receiving  or  winning  of  this  com- 
mission or  award  should  be  held  as  a  great  honor,  and  the  suc- 
cessful one  should  be  honored  in  some  fitting  manner  during  the 
celebration.  The  same  is  equally  true  of  poets  or  authors  par- 
ticipating. 

With  the  making  of  a  better  and  more  glorious  Fourth,  prepa- 
ration for  it  must  be  made  much  longer  in  advance.  Stump 
speeches  can  be  made  on  the  spur  of  the  moment,  but  songs 
cannot  be  so  written,  nor  chorus  and  orchestra  so  rehearsed.  All 
commissions  should  be  given,  or  competitions  announced,  here- 
after, a  year  beforehand,  immediately  after  the  celebration  in 
hand. 

Vocal  and  Instrumental  Soloists.  At  the  great  annual  out- 
door Christmas  Eve  ceremony  in  San  Francisco,  where  the  au- 
dience numbers  one  hundred  thousand,  Tetrazzini  and  Bispham 
have  sung,  and  Kubelik  has  played,  with  immense  success. 
(Choral  and  orchestral  music  are  also  features  of  this  ceremony, 
and  the  singing  of  hymns  by  the  people.)  A  similar  feature,  by 
local  or  visiting  artists,  might  well  form  one  of  the  most  popular 
and  inspiring  events  of  the  Fourth  of  July  celebration  throughout 
America.  New  York  City  adopted  this  idea  at  the  1912  celebra- 
tion. 

In  what  manner  should  this  great  tribute  and  use  of  music 
be  brought  to  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth?  Local  conditions 
must  finally  determine  this  for  each  place. 

By  whatsoever  names  we  may  choose  to  call  them,  it  is  cer- 
tain that  the  New  Fourth  is  to  rest  upon  two  main  elements — 
that  which  may  be  considered  as  the  dramatic,  and  the  musical ; 
the  dramatic  element  to  present  to  the  people  the  Idea  of  Liberty 
4 


50 

(whether  it  be  by  actual  dramatic  action,  by  pageantry,  by 
oratory,  or  by  the  freedom  given  to  boys  to  cook  a  camp-fire 
dinner!),  and  the  musical  element  to  glorify  the  idea.  In  dis- 
cussing with  Mr.  Langdon  his  outline  for  a  celebration,  I  have 
suggested  an  alternative  idea  for  the  dramatic  side  of  the  event. 
This  would  consist  in  a  concentration  of  the  dramatic  elements 
and  an  epitomizing  of  the  dramatic  idea,  in  a  dramatic  scene,  or 
little  drama,  elicited  from  local  authors  after  the  manner  sug- 
gested above  for  music,  the  theme  of  the  action  being  every  year 
identical,  for  example,  "The  Triumph  of  Liberty,"  the  place, 
time,  and  character  of  the  action  (whether  historical,  allegorical, 
etc.)  being  always  different  and  left  to  the  desire  and  imagination 
of  the  author.  This  is  the  method  which,  through  a  number  of 
years  of  evolution,  has  brought  the  drama  of  the  Midsummer 
Forest  Festival  of  the  Bohemian  Club  of  San  Francisco  to  so 
high  and  wonderful  a  character,  the  theme  being  always  the 
Slaying  and  Burial  of  Care.  In  such  a  dramatic  scene  for  a 
Fourth  of  July  ceremony,  music  will  find  a  legitimate  and 
natural  place,  its  character  being  determined  by  the  character  of 
the  piece. 

The  musical  aspect  of  the  celebration,  as  I  conceive  it,  en- 
tirely aside  from  the  various  incidental  musical  features,  should 
provide  a  place  in  the  ceremony  sacred  to  the  Idea  of  Music,  in 
and  for  itself,  where  it  may  grow  year  by  year,  where  Music  itself 
is  given  Liberty,  that  it  may  each  year  reveal  itself  as  a  loftier  and 
mightier  means  for  the  praise  of  Liberty  and  for  the  inspiring  of 
exalted  emotions  in  the  people.  My  observation  of  many  large 
popular  musical  events  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  and  my 
own  experience  with  the  Municipal  Concerts  in  New  York  City, 
have  shown  me  that  people  in  the  mass,  particularly  under  formu- 
lated ceremonial  conditions,  will  (independently  of  all  intellectual 
understanding)  rise  to  the  greatest  heights  of  enthusiasm  in  re- 
sponse to  the  best  and  greatest  music. 

Mr.  Langdon  has  made  a  special  point  of  the  musical  possi- 
bilities of  the  celebration.  The  idea  above  expressed  indicates 
the  way  in  which  music  can  be  brought  to  its  highest  condition 
for  this  purpose.  This  distinctive  and  particular  feature  of  the 
celebration,  dedicated  to  the  highest  expression  of  music  per  se, 
might  be  called  the  Ceremony  of  Song.  It  could  include  one  or 
the  other,  or  both,  of  two  elements:  Musical  Contest,  and 
Tribute  of  Song. 


The  Musical  Contest  would  be  similar  in  idea  to  all  musical 
contests,  from  the  time  when  musicians  competed  with  the  flute 
and  lyre  at  the  Olympiad  Games  of  Greece,  through  the  German 
"Singer's  Wars,"  down  to  the  present  day  "Sangerfest."  Ac- 
cording to  local  conditions,  this  could  present  contests  of 

Choral  Societies 

Choruses  from  different  schools 

Amateur  bands 

Church  choirs 

Where  there  is  an  amateur  orchestra,  there  might  be  a  violin 
contest  to  determine  the  concert  master  of  the  orchestra  for  the 
ensuing  year.  There  should  be  a  committee  of  judges  to  make  all 
decisions. 

The  "Tribute  of  Song"  would  comprise  the  highest  offerings 
of  music  which  the  community  could  provide.  Songs,  hymns, 
and  choruses  would  be  sung  by  the  largest  possible  assembled 
body  of  singers,  unaccompanied,  or  accompanied  by  band  or 
preferably  orchestra.  Also  the  orchestra  or  band  would  give 
special  numbers.  Vocal,  violin,  or  other  solos,  as  suggested,  could 
be  interspersed.  All  the  assembled  people  should  join  in  well- 
known  hymns  and  patriotic  songs.  In  instrumental  concerted 
music  (e.  g.,  Victor  Herbert's  "American  Fantasie")  orchestra 
should  supersede  band  wherever  possible. 

The  paucity  of  great  national  American  music  of  a  patriotic 
character,  and  the  immense  power  of  music,  merely  as  music,  to 
inspire  enthusiasm  and  exaltation,  must  lead  all  who  understand 
the  need  and  love  of  the  people  for  music  on  such  an  occasion  to 
see  that,  while  as  much  as  possible  is  to  be  made  of  our  existing 
national  airs,  the  chief  object  of  this  part  of  the  celebration  is  to 
bring  Music,  at  its  greatest,  before  the  people,  as  a  means  of 
praise  and  exaltation.  For  this  reason  it  is  not  essential  that 
this  "Tribute  of  Song"  should  confine  itself  to  "patriotic" 
music,  any  more  than  a  foreign  folk  dance  in  the  "Tribute  of  the 
People"  in  Mr.  Langdon's  outline  expresses  specifically  the  idea  of 
Liberty.  The  people  will  be  immersed  in  a  Fourth  of  July  emo- 
tion by  virtue  of  attending  the  ceremony,  and  all  great  and  mov- 
ing music  will  but  heighten  that  emotion.  Great  instrumental 
and  choral  works  from  all  the  world  should  therefore  be  presented. 
America  is  the  heir  of  all  races  and  nations.  In  places  where 
certain  nationalities  have  a  particularly  large  representation,  a 


52 

feature  can  be  made  of  characteristic  music  from  their  own 
nation.  American  composers,  however,  should  invariably  be 
represented,  and  by  their  best  work,  in  this  "Tribute  of  Song," 
which  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  could  draw  largely  upon  Fourth 
of  July  music  written  by  composers  in  different  places  for  their 
local  celebrations. 

The  "Exaltation  of  Liberty"  closing  the  "Ceremony  of 
Song"  is  offered  as  a  possible  and  effective  means  of  presenting 
the  prize  song  of  the  occasion,  which  will  necessarily  have  a 
direct  bearing  upon  the  Idea  of  American  Liberty.  If  a  plan 
similar  to  that  proposed  by  Mr.  Langdon  is  adopted,  "America" 
with  the  thirteen  original  states,  can  take  a  prominent  position 
in  which  she  is  surrounded  by  the  massed  chorus,  which  sings  the 
song  or  hymn  which  has  won  the  prize  for  the  year.  Or  if  it  is 
desired  to  give  that  in  another  part  of  the  program,  another  work 
can  be  chosen  for  this  feature.  It  is  essential  throughout  the 
"Ceremony  of  Song"  that  choruses  and  soloists  should  be  given 
a  central  and  prominent  position  in  the  space  provided  for  the 
celebration. 

It  is  with  the  purpose  of  bringing  the  glory  of  music  to  bear 
to  its  fullest  possible  extent  upon  the  celebration  of  our  glory 
of  Independence,  that  the  above  suggestions  have  been  made. 
America,  in  music,  needs  a  new  impulse,  a  new  Vision.  No  less 
does  Music  itself,  weakened  with  European  over-refinements, 
need  a  new  and  sturdier  Vision.  That  Vision  and  impulse  are 
latent  in  the  deep  springs  of  our  greatest  national  enthusiasm — 
the  enthusiasm  for  American  Liberty.  They  wait  only  for  the 
nation  to  call  them  forth  into  living  reality. 


Notes 

THE  ORCHESTRA 

It  must  be  understood  that  there  are  two  kinds  of  orchestra, 
the  "grand"  or  "symphony"  orchestra,  and  the  "small"  or- 
chestra. The  symphony  orchestra  is  thoroughly  standardized 
as  to  its  required  instruments,  and  music  written  for  it  cannot  be 
played  by  the  small  orchestra.  The  grand  orchestra  contains 
no  piano.  Thirty-five  is  about  the  minimum  number  of  players 
required  for  its  organization,  and  these  must  conform  to  the 
proper  specification  of  instruments,  the  requisite  proportion  of 
stringed  instruments,  flutes,  oboes,  horns,  etc.  The  symphonies 
of  Beethoven,  Schubert,  Mendelssohn,  etc.,  can  be  played  on 
such  an  orchestra,  but  modern  composers  have  augmented  it, 
so  that  "modern"  music,  including  the  larger  works  of  Wagner 
and  the  music  of  later  composers,  requires  about  sixty  players. 
The  great  symphony  orchestras  contain  about  one  hundred 
players,  and  are  based  on  the  standard  grand  orchestra  of  Beet- 
hoven. The  printed  music  for  grand  orchestra  will  be  of  no  use 
for  smaller  groups  of  players.  W.  J.  Henderson's  "The  Or- 
chestra and  Orchestral  Music"  (price, $1.25), and  Daniel  Gregory 
Mason's  "The  Orchestral  Instruments  and  What  They  Do" 
(price,  $1.25),  give  a  full  account  of  the  constitution  of  the 
symphony  orchestra,  and  much  other  valuable  information. 
These  are  to  be  had  of  G.  Schirmer,  New  York. 

The  small  orchestra  consists  of  anything  from  piano  and 
violin  up.  The  piano  and  violin  are  its  basis,  the  piano  to  give 
the  bass  and  harmony,  and  the  violin  the  melody.  The  parts 
for  the  other  instruments  are  written  in  such  a  manner  that  they 
will  fit  into  the  combination  as  they  are  added.  Up  to  the  num- 
ber of  five  instruments  (ist  violin  always  necessary,  2nd  violin, 
flute  or  clarinet,  cornet  and  piano — not  a  precisely  fixed  arrange- 
ment), the  piano  is  absolutely  necessary.  Above  five  instru- 
ments, the  bass  viol,  commonly  called  "  the  bass,"  may  be  added 
and  the  piano  dispensed  with  if  desired.  There  is  no  fixed  or 
standard  arrangement  of  instruments  for  small  orchestra.  So 

53 


54 

long  as  the  bass  is  present,  the  violin  (with  other  "  melodic" 
instruments),  and  instruments  to  fill  out  the  harmony — com- 
monly 2nd  violin,  viola,  horns,  etc. — the  published  music  for 
small  orchestra  is  so  arranged  as  to  "sound,"  i.  e.  to  make  a 
proper  and  full  musical  effect,  whatever  the  particular  combina- 
tion of  instruments.  As  the  orchestra  grows,  the  "strings" 
should  preponderate  well  over  wind  instruments. 

The  following  is  a  suitable  basis  for  small  orchestra  with  ten 
instruments:  1st  violin,  2nd  violin,  bass,  1st  cornet,  clarinet, 
flute,  trombone,  viola,  2nd  cornet,  and  drums.  The  next  instru- 
ments to  add,  in  proper  order,  would  be,  'cello,  horns,  2nd 
clarinet,  oboe  and  bassoon. 

A  very  wide  range  of  music  is  published  for  small  orchestra, 
including  adaptations  of  many  standard  works  originally  com- 
posed for  grand  orchestra. 

THE  BAND 

The  specification  of  instruments  for  the  smallest  bands  em- 
ployed for  municipal  concerts  in  New  York  City,  with  fourteen 
men  (and  leader),  is  as  follows:  E  flat  clarinet  or  flute,  solo  B 
flat  clarinet,  1st  B  flat  clarinet,  2nd  B  flat  clarinet,  solo  B  flat 
cornet,  1st  B  flat  cornet,  2nd  B  flat  cornet,  1st  horn,  2nd  horn, 
trombone,  baritone,  E  flat  tuba,  small  drum,  bass  drum.  For  a 
band  of  twenty-one  and  leader  these  are  added:  piccolo,  2nd 
solo  B  flat  clarinet,  2nd  solo  B  flat  cornet,  3rd  horn,  2nd  and  3rd 
trombones,  and  2nd  tuba.  The  next  instruments  to  be  added 
are  trombones,  flute,  3rd  alto  horn,  oboe  and  bassoon. 

Complete  information  about  the  band  can  be  had  from  a  book 
recently  published  by  Henry  Holt  &  Co.,  New  York,  "The  Wind- 
Band  and  its  Instruments,"  by  Arthur  A.  Clappe.  (Price,  $i  .60.) 

National  Songs  for  Band,  Orchestra,  etc. 

The  following  can  be  had  of  G.  Schirmer,  3  East  43rd  Street, 
New  York  City: 

Patriotic  Songs  of  the  United  States  of  America,  as  sung  in 
the  Public  Schools  of  New  York.  5  cents,  $4  per  hundred. 

Album  of  National  Anthems,  Hymns,  and  Patriotic  Songs, 
for  orchestra.  The  same  also  for  band.  This  collection 
contains  nine  American  songs  and  national  songs  of  many 
other  nations. 

Hymn  to  Liberty,  by  Arthur  Farwell.     For  mixed  quartet  or 


55 

chorus,  with  piano  accompaniment.  10  cents.  Special 
rates  in  quantity.  Edition  for  band,  orchestra,  and  male 
quartet  or  chorus  in  press.  Band  arrangement  cannot  be 
used  to  accompany  chorus  singing  in  four  parts,  but  can 
accompany  chorus  singing  melody  alone.  Orchestral 
version  can  be  used  in  either  way. 

The  following  can  be  had  by  C.  H.  Ditson  &  Co.,  8  East  34th 
Street,  New  York  City: 

American  Patriotic  Songs.  A  volume  containing  all  the  well 
known  songs  and  many  others,  variously  arranged,  as 
accompanied  and  unaccompanied  quartets,  solo  voice 
with  accompaniment,  etc.,  50  cents. 

The  World's  Collection  of  Patriotic  Songs  and  Anthems. 
Contains  eleven  American  songs  and  national  songs  of 
many  other  nations.  50  cents. 

Oliver  Ditson  Co.  can  provide  all  American  patriotic  songs 
in  individual  band  and  orchestra  arrangements,  and  also  as 
medleys  and  fantasies. 

FOLK  DANCE  MUSIC 

The  music  of  folk  dances  of  many  nations  will  be  found  in  two 
books  by  Elizabeth  Burchenal,  published  by  G.  Schirmer.  The 
first,  "Folk  Dances  and  Singing  Games"  (price,  $1.50),  contains, 
besides,  music,  illustrations  and  descriptions  of  dances.  This 
music  is  for  piano,  and  for  band  or  orchestra  requires  special 
arrangement.  Information  about  such  arrangements,  which  are 
not  yet  printed,  can  be  had  by  writing  to  the  Parks  and  Play- 
grounds Association,  1123  Broadway,  New  York. 

G.  Schirmer  has  in  preparation  a  band  arrangement  of  the 
music  in  the  Burchenal  books. 


UNIV       JITY  O     '       .IFOR     iA  LIBR    . . » 
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This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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style,  which  *c£Jflsisted  of  nothing  but  fireworks  and  firecrackers. 
There  is  also  a  program  for  celebrating  the  Fourth  in  large  cities. 
(32  pages.)  Price,  5  cents. 

No.  62.  FOURTH  OF  JULY  INJURIES  AND  TETANUS. 

The  Seventh  Annual  Compilation  by  the  Journal  of  the  Amer- 
ican Medical  Association.  It  contains  statistics  of  the  number  of 
deaths  and  injuries  for  all  the  states,  and  for  the  largest  cities,  from 
1903  to  1909.  (27  pages.)  Price,  5  cents. 

No.  31.  A  SAFER,  SANER  FOURTH  OF  JULY. 

An  illustrated  booklet  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Conference  of 
Municipal  Representatives,  at  the  Third  Annual  Congress  of  the 
Playground  Association  of  America.  It  contains  a  suggested 
program  and  reports  of  how  some  of  the  cities  celebrated  previous 
to  1909.  (31  pages.)  Price,  5  cents. 


